Chess Puzzle #42Kze — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1136 · Beginner · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king f2; queen d5; rook f3; bishop d3; pawns a2/e5/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks c1/f8; pawns a6/b7/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook f8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen d5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook d8→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f3→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1p3pp1/p6p/3QP1q1/8/3B1RP1/P4KP1/2r5 b - - 8 37

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