Chess Puzzle #16iWU — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 943 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rook b1; knight e6; pawns a2/c6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d2; rook f6; knight e7; pawns d5/e4/g7/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe7 — queen a7→e7, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen d2→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook b1→f1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f6→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: 6k1/Q3n1p1/2P1Nr2/3p3p/4p3/8/P2q1PPP/1R4K1 w - - 0 32

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