Chess Puzzle #NF3WO — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1990 · Advanced · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen c5; rooks c1/e1; pawns a2/b2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e2; rook a8; bishop a6; knight b6; pawns a7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf3 — queen e2→f3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen c5→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook a8→c8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc8 (knight b6→c8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Re8# — rook e1→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Re8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p4ppp/bn6/2Q5/8/6P1/PP2qP1P/2R1R1K1 b - - 1 19

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