Chess Puzzle #1g59C — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1255 · Intermediate · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rooks a1/d1; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks d8/e8; bishop c6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight d5→f4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook d8→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook a1→d1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qe1+ — queen e6→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook d1→e1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e8→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/pp3ppp/2b1q3/3N2Q1/8/8/PPP2PPP/R2R2K1 w - - 1 24

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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