Chess Puzzle #553XX — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1146 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks d1/e7; pawns a2/b2/g2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c2; rooks f8/g6; pawns a7/b7/h5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re1 — rook d1→e1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf2+ — queen c2→f2, 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, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pp2R3/6r1/4Q2p/8/6P1/PPq3PP/3R2K1 w - - 4 28

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