Chess Puzzle #F29GJ — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1576 · Intermediate · attraction, back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen g3; rooks c1/g2; knight h3; pawns a2/b3/e3/f2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f3; rooks d1/d8; knight f6; pawns a7/c5/e6/f7/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd1 — rook c1→d1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook d8→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ng1 (knight h3→g1).
  3. Best move: Rxg1+ — rook d1→g1, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg1 (king h1→g1, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qd1# — queen f3→d1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin. The combination ends with Qd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/p4pp1/4pn2/2p5/8/1P2PqQN/P4PRP/2Rr3K w - - 5 33

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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