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

Rating 1094 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; rook a1; bishop a3; pawns a4/b5/d4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen d3; rook e2; pawns a5/b6/c4/d5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen b7→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe3+ — queen d3→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Re1+ — rook e2→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook a1→e1, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxe1# — queen e3→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/1Q3ppk/1p5p/pP1p4/P1pP4/B2q1P2/4r1PP/R5K1 w - - 1 29

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