Chess Puzzle #1OlO8 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 981 · Beginner · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rooks c6/d1; bishop f2; pawns a2/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen h3; rooks e4/e8; bishop d4; pawns f7/g4/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd4 — rook d1→d4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re1+ — rook e4→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Bxe1 (bishop f2→e1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e8→e1, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
  4. Best move: Qf1# — queen h3→f1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/Q4p2/2R4p/8/3brPp1/6Pq/P4B1P/3R2K1 w - - 3 30

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