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

Rating 1172 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rook f1; knight c4; pawns a2/d6/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e3; rook e8; bishop b7; knight c5; pawns a7/b6/d7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen e3→e4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f2→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook e8→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/pb1p1ppp/1p1P4/2n5/2N5/4q1P1/P4Q1P/5RK1 b - - 3 26

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