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

Rating 1144 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rook d1; knight c4; pawns b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f7; rook f8; bishop e3; knight c6; pawns b6/b7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxe3 — pawn f2→e3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf2+ — queen f7→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook d1→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: 5rk1/1p3qp1/1pn4p/8/2N5/1Q2b3/1P3PPP/3R2K1 w - - 0 27

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