Chess Puzzle #0O8Zd — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1226 · Intermediate · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen a8; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen h4; rook h8; bishop c5; knight e4; pawns a6/b5/c7/d7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh8 — queen a8→h8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf2+ — bishop c5→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f1→f2, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen h4→f2, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  4. Best move: Qe1# — queen f2→e1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: Q6r/2ppkppp/p7/1pb1P3/4n2q/8/PPP2PPP/RNB2RK1 w - - 1 13

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