Chess Puzzle #7Ej0U — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1593 · Intermediate · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks b5/f1; bishop b3; pawns a4/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks c8/d8; bishop a7; pawns a5/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb7 — rook b5→b7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f6→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f1→f2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rd1+ — rook d8→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Qe1 (queen e4→e1).
  4. Best move: Rxe1# — rook d1→e1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/b4pp1/5q1p/pR2p3/P3Q3/1B6/2P2PPP/5RK1 w - - 7 22

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