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

Rating 1431 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rook d1; knight h3; pawns a2/b3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e3; rooks f2/f8; pawns a7/b7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf2 — knight h3→f2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen e3→f2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook d1→f1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/pp4p1/7p/3Q4/8/1P2q2N/P4rPP/3R2K1 w - - 1 28

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