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

Rating 1530 · Intermediate · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks e1/f1; knight f2; pawns a2/c4/g2/g3/h2. Black: king d8; queen b2; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/d4; knight d7; pawns a7/b6/c7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook h8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe7+ — queen f7→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d8→c8).
  3. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook f8→e8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2k3r/pbpn1Q2/1p5p/6p1/2Pb4/6P1/Pq3NPP/4RRK1 b - - 3 24

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