Chess Puzzle #2eEoZ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1558 · Intermediate · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen f2; rooks e1/f1; knight b4; pawns a3/b2/d5/g3. Black: king g8; queen d6; rook e4; bishop c8; knights g6/g7; pawns a6/b5/g4/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe5 — queen d6→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f2→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf8 (knight g6→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2b3k1/6np/p2q2n1/1p1P4/1N2r1p1/P5P1/1P3Q2/4RR1K b - - 1 31

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