Chess Puzzle #3Dg8l — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1166 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rook f1; pawns a3/b4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks e7/e8; pawns b5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook e7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook e8→f8, captures queen).
  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: 4r1k1/4r1pp/1q6/1p2PQ2/1P6/P7/6PP/5R1K b - - 0 32

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