Chess Puzzle #4dnCE — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1145 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen d1; rook g1; knight d7; pawns a2/b2/e5/f4/h5. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks c8/d4; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d1→d4, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc2+ — queen c7→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
  3. Best move: Qc1+ — queen c2→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook g1→c1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxc1# — rook c8→c1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r4k/1pqN1pp1/p3p3/3pP2P/3r1P2/8/PP6/1K1Q2R1 w - - 0 30

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