Chess Puzzle #DC8uU — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1435 · Intermediate · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks b7/f1; pawns c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen a2; rooks e8/f8; pawns a7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg4 — queen e6→g4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen a2→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f1→f2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re1+ — rook e8→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f2→f1).
  4. Best move: Rexf1# — rook e1→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rexf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rr1k/pR4pp/4Q3/8/8/2P5/q4PPP/5RK1 w - - 1 21

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