Chess Puzzle #G16B1 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1400 · Intermediate · back rank mate, fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rooks d1/d5; knight b1; pawns a3/b4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b8; rooks c8/g6; bishop b6; knight e4; pawns b5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe3 — bishop b6→e3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen a6→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc8 (queen b8→c8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d5→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen c8→d8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1qr3k1/5ppp/Qb4r1/1p1R4/1P2n3/P3P2P/5PP1/1N1R2K1 b - - 2 28

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