Chess Puzzle #0G909 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1090 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks e1/e3; pawns a2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b2; rooks e7/f8; pawns a7/b7/e4/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe7 — queen h4→e7, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen b2→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook e1→f1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/pp2r1pp/4p3/8/4p2Q/2P1R3/Pq3PPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 23

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