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

Rating 841 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen g3; rooks c1/f4; knight d6; pawns a4/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen c5; rooks e2/e8; bishop d7; knight d4; pawns b7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc5 — rook c1→c5, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re1+ — rook e2→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe1 (queen g3→e1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e8→e1, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f4→f1).
  4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook e1→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1k2r3/1p1b2pp/3N4/2q5/P2n1R2/6Q1/4r1PP/2R4K w - - 6 33

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