Chess Puzzle #40IeP — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1265 · Intermediate · back rank mate, fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks c1/c7; knight f4; pawns a2/b3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/d4; knight b6; pawns a7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf4 — queen f6→f4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen f3→a8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxa8 (knight b6→a8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c7→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook d4→d8).
  4. Best move: Rxd8# — rook c8→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p1R2ppp/1n3q2/8/3r1N2/1P3Q1P/P4PP1/2R3K1 b - - 0 26

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