Chess Puzzle #3Ackm — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1097 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen e3; rooks e1/h1; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishop a6; pawns a5/b6/d6/d7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe7+ — queen e3→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
  3. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook c8→e8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4k1r/2qp1ppp/bp1p4/p2P4/8/4QN1P/PPP3P1/2K1R2R b - - 1 20

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