Chess Puzzle #3DSRf — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1259 · Intermediate · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, queenside attack.

Position

White: king b1; queen h4; rooks e1/e6; pawns a2/b3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen a3; rooks d3/d8; pawns a7/b7/c7/f5/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: R6e2 — rook e6→e2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rd1+ — rook d3→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook e1→d1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook d8→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kc2 (king b1→c2).
  4. Best move: Qc1# — queen a3→c1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, queenside attack. The combination ends with Qc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr4/ppp4p/4R3/5p2/7Q/qP1r1P2/P5PP/1K2R3 w - - 0 27

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