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

Rating 1180 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks e1/e6; bishop c7; pawns a2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f7; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; pawns a6/b7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd6 — bishop c7→d6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f7→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, 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, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1pB2qbp/p3R1p1/8/8/1Q6/P4PPP/4R1K1 w - - 5 26

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