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

Rating 882 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e5; bishop a3; pawns a2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; knight d6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb3 — queen d1→b3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f6→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook a1→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: r4rk1/ppp3pp/3npq2/4R3/3P4/B1P5/P4PPP/R2Q2K1 w - - 0 17

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