Mate in 3: rook to a8 (a5·2)
c9-17818naming tag (square·N)Shuffle Rating 1990Theme: Chess960 twist: use the unusual starting setup of the pieces.
White to move — find the best continuation
The tactical motive
Chess960 twist: use the unusual starting setup of the pieces.
White to move — find the best continuation
Solution & explanation
Main line
23. Ra8+ Kxa8 24. Qa6+ Kb8 25. Qxb7#
Why it works
- Great move! rook to a8 keeps the pressure (#2).
- Well found: queen to a6 (#1).
- Strong! queen to b7 is the sharp choice (#).
- The line ends in a forced mate in 3.
- If instead Kxa8, then Qa6+ and you stay on top.
About this position
These pieces come from starting position #94.
SP-94 · ThroneScout — A knight starts on the edge (a/h) and the king sits centrally on d or e; the mirror twin stays in this family too.
Explore position #94Similar puzzles
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