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

Rating 1342 · Intermediate · back rank mate, deflection, discovered attack, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g1; rooks e1/f1; bishop d2; knight g3; pawns a2/c2/c3/d3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks f7/f8; knights c6/f4; pawns a5/b6/c7/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne4 — knight g3→e4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight f4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Rxf1+ — rook f7→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook e1→f1, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/2p2rpp/1pn5/p3p3/5n2/2PP2N1/P1PB2PP/4RRK1 w - - 0 25

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