Chess Puzzle #2LHsH — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1076 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; knight b3; pawns b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen f7; rooks e4/f8; bishop g7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g5/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen d3→e4, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f7→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook e1→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: 2k2r2/ppp2qb1/3p3p/6p1/4r3/1NPQ4/1P3PPP/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 22

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