Chess Puzzle #37uUb — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1596 · Intermediate · back rank mate, deflection, discovered attack, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rooks a1/f1; knight d5; pawns a2/b4/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f7; rooks a8/f8; knight f4; pawns a7/c7/d6/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rae1 — rook a1→e1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight f4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen f7→f1, captures rook, 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, deflection, discovered attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/p1p2qpp/2Qp4/3Np3/1P2Pn2/8/P1P3PP/R4RK1 w - - 0 19

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