Chess Puzzle #1CcsB — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 799 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks a1/g3; bishop h7; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f4; rooks d8/f8; bishop d7; knight h5; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh5 — queen g6→h5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f4→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: 3r1r1k/pp1b3B/2p1p1Q1/7n/3P1q2/2P3R1/PP3PPP/R5K1 w - - 3 24

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