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

Rating 1531 · Intermediate · deflection, endgame, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/e2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks e8/f8; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rae1 — rook a1→e1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f6→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook e2→f2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f2→f1).
  4. Best move: Rexf1# — rook e1→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/pp4p1/2p2q1p/3p2p1/3P2Q1/2P5/PP2RPPP/R5K1 w - - 3 27

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