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

Rating 1241 · Intermediate · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks d7/e1; bishops b1/d6; pawns a3/e6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks e8/f8; bishop b2; knight e7; pawns a4/c6/g5/g6/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe7 — bishop d6→e7, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f6→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, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/3Rn3/2pBPqpp/6p1/p3Q3/P7/1b3PPP/1B2R1K1 w - - 2 30

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