Chess Puzzle #1Ji4V — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; pawns a2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishop e4; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook e1→e4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f6→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf1 (queen d1→f1, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/ppp3pp/2n2q2/8/3Pb3/2P5/P4PPP/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 16

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