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

Rating 1454 · Intermediate · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rooks a1/f1; bishops c4/h2; pawns a2/c3/e5/g4. Black: king g8; queen e3; rooks a8/h3; bishop c6; knight g7; pawns a6/b7/e6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen e3→e4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f2→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, 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, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1p4np/p1b1p1p1/4P3/2B3P1/2P1q2r/P4Q1B/R4RK1 b - - 1 24

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