Chess Puzzle #1HwOy — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1356 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks d1/d5; pawns a4/b3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen f7; rooks a6/f8; pawns c5/d6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd6 — rook d5→d6, captures pawn. 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: 5r2/4kq2/r2p3Q/2pR4/P3P3/1P6/6PP/3R2K1 w - - 1 34

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