Chess Puzzle #BlOzL — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1609 · Advanced · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/h3; bishops c1/d3; pawns a3/b2/c2/f4/g2/g5. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knights c6/g6; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfd8 — rook f8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh8 (knight g6→h8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxh8# — rook h3→h8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/4bpp1/p1n1p1n1/1p1q2PQ/5P2/P2B3R/1PP3P1/R1B3K1 b - - 3 17

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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