Chess Puzzle #AW8gs — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1676 · Advanced · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen a3; rooks a1/d2; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c3/f3/h2. Black: king b8; queen f5; rooks e8/g8; pawns b5/b7/c5/h6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf1 — rook a1→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen f5→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf3 (rook f1→f3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re1+ — rook e8→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f3→f1).
  4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook e1→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k2r1r1/1p6/7p/1ppN1q2/8/Q1P2P2/PP1R3P/R6K w - - 3 33

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