Chess Puzzle #3TA4i — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1107 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rook f1; bishop h4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks a8/g6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh4 — queen h6→h4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f3→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook a8→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: r5k1/ppp3pp/3p2rq/3Pp3/2P1P2B/2N2Q2/PP4PP/5RK1 b - - 0 22

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