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

Rating 932 · Beginner · fork, long, mate, mate in 3, opening.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/d6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen f6; rooks a8/h8; bishops b6/c8; knight a5; pawns a7/b7/d7/g5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight f3→e5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f6→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen f2→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qf1+ (queen d3→f1, gives check).
  4. Best move: Qxf1# — queen e1→f1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, long, mate, mate in 3, opening. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2k1r/pp1p2p1/1b1P1q1p/n5p1/8/2NQ1N2/PP3PPP/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 16

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