Chess Puzzle #26bUW — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1570 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook e6; pawns b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen f4; rooks d3/f5; pawns a6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd3 — queen c2→d3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f4→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf1 (queen d3→f1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f5→f1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 8/6pk/p3R2p/5r2/5q2/3r4/1PQ2PPP/6K1 w - - 0 38

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