Chess Puzzle #31txr — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1170 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rook d1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2. Black: king c8; queen e6; rook h8; bishop h2; pawns a7/b7/c7/f5/f7/g4. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh6 — queen e6→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd7+ — queen d3→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: 2k4r/ppp2p2/4q3/5p2/4P1p1/2NQ4/PPP2PPb/3R3K b - - 3 22

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