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

Rating 1447 · Intermediate · back rank mate, deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rook f1; bishop g5; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook a8; bishop d7; knight f8; pawns a4/b7/c4/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg5 — queen d8→g5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f2→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f7→f8, captures knight, 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, deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1nk1/1p1b2pp/4p3/4P1B1/p1pP4/P1N5/1P3QPP/5RK1 b - - 0 22

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