Chess Puzzle #21R9l — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 937 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks e1/e2; knight g4; pawns b2/b3/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks c8/d8; bishop f5; pawns a5/b6/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg4 — bishop f5→g4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e2→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook c8→e8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/5ppp/1p4q1/p2pQb2/3P2N1/1P5P/1P2RPP1/4R1K1 b - - 4 25

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.