Chess Puzzle #H3r75 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1450 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rook f1; knight d3; pawns a3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rook c8; bishop b7; pawns a6/d4/e6/g6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen c6→e4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen h3→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen e6→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc8 (bishop b7→c8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rf8# — rook f1→f8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1b4pp/p1q1p1p1/4P3/3p4/P2N3Q/6PP/5R1K b - - 0 31

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