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

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks d1/g5; knight a4; pawns b2/b3/c2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f4; rooks a8/f8; pawns a6/b4/c5/e6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe5 — queen e2→e5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qf2+ — queen f4→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook d1→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: r4r1k/6pp/p3p3/2p3R1/Np3q2/1P6/1PP1Q1PP/3R2K1 w - - 4 23

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