Chess Puzzle #2UOW5 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1011 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen g2; rooks d3/e1; knight h5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f6/g4/h2. Black: king d7; queen f2; rooks c8/g8; knight e4; pawns a6/b4/d5/e6/f7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen g2→e4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc2+ — queen f2→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
  3. Best move: Qc1+ — queen c2→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook e1→c1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxc1# — rook c8→c1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3r1/3k1p2/p3pP1p/3p3N/1p2n1P1/3R4/PPP2qQP/1K2R3 w - - 1 27

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