Chess Puzzle #3S94T — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1142 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king f2; queen h5; rooks a1/h1; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/f4/g2/g5. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e3; bishop f5; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re7 — rook e3→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh8 (knight g6→h8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxh8# — rook h1→h8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q2k1/ppp2pp1/6n1/3p1bPQ/5P2/2P1r3/PP1N1KP1/R6R b - - 1 17

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