Chess Puzzle #0D7zu — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 773 · Beginner · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g1; queen d6; rook e7; bishop e3; pawns c5/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b8; rook a8; bishop b5; pawns c6/d5/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf6 — queen d6→f6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ra1+ — rook a8→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Bc1 (bishop e3→c1).
  3. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook a1→c1, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Re1 (rook e7→e1).
  4. Best move: Rxe1# — rook c1→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rq4k1/4Rp2/2pQ2p1/1bPp3p/3P4/4B2P/5PP1/6K1 w - - 5 39

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