Chess Puzzle #0WtG9 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks a1/a4; knight d6; pawns b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c2; rooks a8/f8; knight e5; pawns a5/c6/e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen g3→e5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen c2→f2, captures pawn, 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, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/6p1/2pNp2p/p3n3/R7/6Q1/1Pq2PPP/R5K1 w - - 4 23

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