Chess Puzzle #8Z4xy — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1413 · Intermediate · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks d3/f1; pawns a2/c2/c3/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks c8/f8; pawns a7/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc3 — rook c8→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d3→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  4. Best move: Rfxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rfxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/p4ppp/4p3/4q3/8/2PRPQ2/P1P3PP/5RK1 b - - 3 19

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