Chess Puzzle #51TtY — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1067 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rook d1; knight d6; pawns a2/b4/c5/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen h4; rook f8; bishop a6; knight d7; pawns a7/b5/c6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd7 — queen e6→d7, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf2+ — queen h4→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook d1→f1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/p2n4/b1pNQ3/1pP1P3/1P5q/8/P5PP/3R2K1 w - - 0 34

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