Chess Puzzle #2F1R3 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1024 · Beginner · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks f1/f7; pawns a2/d4/e5/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks c3/f8; pawns a6/b5/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen e4→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Rc8 (rook c3→c8).
  3. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen a8→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen c8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5Rpp/p3p2q/1p2P3/3PQ2P/2r5/P5P1/5RK1 b - - 0 24

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