Chess Puzzle #1aDC6 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1519 · Intermediate · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f6; rooks b8/f8; bishop g7; knight c3; pawns a7/c5/d5/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf2+ — queen f6→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook e1→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: 1r3r1k/p5b1/4Qqp1/2pp2N1/8/2n5/PP4PP/R1B1R1K1 w - - 4 23

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