Chess Puzzle #25FoC — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1402 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen d6; rooks c1/c4; pawns b4/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a3; rooks a8/b8; pawns a7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe3 — queen a3→e3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen d6→b8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxb8 (rook a8→b8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c4→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook b8→c8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxc8# — rook c1→c8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rr4k1/p4ppp/3Qp3/4P3/1PR2P2/q7/6PP/2R4K b - - 3 28

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