Chess Puzzle #0Btrc — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 677 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; rooks a1/f1; knight a3; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f5; rooks f2/f8; knight g6; pawns g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf2 — rook f1→f2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f5→f2, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook a1→f1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/1Q4pp/6n1/5q2/8/N1P5/PP3rPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 21

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