Chess Puzzle #48jPg — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1135 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rook a1; bishop c1; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rook f8; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf2+ — queen f6→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf1 (queen d1→f1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/ppp3pp/3ppq2/4n3/4P3/2N2N2/PPP3PP/R1BQ2K1 w - - 5 15

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