Chess Puzzle #3i79f — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1493 · Intermediate · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rook a1; bishop d2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks f6/f8; pawns a7/c7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bg5 — bishop d2→g5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd1+ — queen d4→d1, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook a1→d1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rf1+ — rook f6→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook d1→f1, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p1p3pp/5r2/8/3q4/2N5/PP1B2PP/R2Q3K w - - 6 22

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