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

Rating 1446 · Intermediate · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rooks a1/e7; bishop c1; knight g6; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen d7; rooks e8/h8; knights a5/c3; pawns a7/b6/c6/d6/g4/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd7 — rook e7→d7, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re1+ — rook e8→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Qf1 (queen a6→f1).
  3. Best move: Ne2+ — knight c3→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook e1→f1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1k2r2r/p2qR3/Qppp2Np/n7/3P2p1/2n5/PP3PPP/R1B3K1 w - - 1 21

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