Chess Puzzle #51gHz — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1103 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rooks a1/f1; knights b1/e5; pawns b2/b3/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops b6/c8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook e8→e5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f2→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen d8→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rnbqr1k1/ppp3pp/1b6/3pN3/3P4/1PP5/1P3QPP/RN3RK1 b - - 0 15

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