Chess Puzzle #1j8nl — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e6; bishops b3/c1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; knights d5/d6; pawns a7/b7/c6/e7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen b6→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf1 (queen d1→f1, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp2p1bp/1qpnR1p1/3n4/8/1BN5/PPP2PPP/R1BQ2K1 w - - 1 16

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