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

Rating 1159 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks e1/e7; pawns f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rook f8; bishop a6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe5 — queen g3→e5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen d4→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: 5rk1/ppp1R2p/b5p1/8/3q4/6Q1/5PPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 25

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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