Chess Puzzle #3chk7 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1187 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/e1; bishop d3; knights g3/g4; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2. Black: king c8; queen h4; rook h8; bishops a5/d7; knight b8; pawns b7/c7/d5/e5. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight g4→e5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh2+ — queen h4→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh1 (knight g3→h1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxh1# — rook h8→h1, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1nk4r/1ppb4/8/b2pp3/3P2Nq/2PB2N1/PP2QPP1/R3R1K1 w - - 0 27

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