Chess Puzzle #9iyOq — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1410 · Intermediate · back rank mate, fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king b1; queen a3; rook g1; bishop d4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/e8; knight f2; pawns a7/b6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf2 — bishop d4→f2, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg1+ — queen g5→g1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxg1 (bishop f2→g1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re1+ — rook e8→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Nd1 (knight c3→d1).
  4. Best move: Rxd1# — rook e1→d1, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/p4pp1/1p5p/6q1/3B4/Q1N5/PPP2n1P/1K4R1 w - - 0 29

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