Chess Puzzle #K4pWF — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1514 · Intermediate · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen b3; rook f1; pawns a2/c2/h6. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks d6/f8; pawns b2/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfd8 — rook f8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen b3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook d8→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5p1p/3r2pP/4q3/8/1Q6/PpP5/1K3R2 b - - 3 31

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