Chess Puzzle #3BGQQ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1261 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks f1/f4; pawns a3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen e3; rooks a8/e8; pawns a4/b7/d4/d6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d3 — pawn d4→d3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen h5→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f4→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook e8→f8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3r2k/1p4pp/3p4/7Q/p2pPR2/P3q2P/6P1/5R1K b - - 3 26

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