Chess Puzzle #56JTE — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1308 · Intermediate · attraction, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rooks f1/f4; pawns a2/d7/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e2; rooks b8/d8; pawns a7/f3/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen c6→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen e2→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf1 (king g1→f1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rb1+ — rook b8→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen d5→d1).
  4. Best move: Rxd1# — rook b1→d1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r1r2k1/p2P1ppp/2Q5/8/5R2/4PpP1/P3qP1P/5RK1 w - - 6 27

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