Chess Puzzle #B9Evn — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1475 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks a1/f1; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/g4; pawns a7/b7/c5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg3 — queen c7→g3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f5→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/ppq3pp/8/2p2Q2/6r1/2P3P1/PP4P1/R4RK1 b - - 0 20

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