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

Rating 1012 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h2; queen a4; rooks d1/g1; pawns a3/b4/c4/e3/h3. Black: king c8; queen f3; rooks e8/h8; pawns a7/b7/c7/f6/g5/h4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe3 — rook e8→e3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd7+ — queen a4→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
  3. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook h8→d8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k1r2r/ppp5/5p2/6p1/QPP4p/P3Pq1P/7K/3R2R1 b - - 0 28

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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