Chess Puzzle #CfMdM — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1453 · Intermediate · attraction, double check, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook b1; bishop d4; knight c3; pawns a2/c5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c4; rook f8; bishop f5; pawns a7/c6/c7/d5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf1 — rook b1→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen c4→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf1 (king g1→f1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bd3+ — bishop f5→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f1→e1).
  4. Best move: Rf1# — rook f8→f1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, double check, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p1p3pp/2p5/2Pp1b2/2qB4/2N5/P2Q2PP/1R4K1 w - - 8 24

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