Chess Puzzle #IMOkZ — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1886 · Advanced · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen f3; rooks e1/h5; knight e3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g6. Black: king g8; queen e4; rooks d2/d8; knight c5; pawns a6/b5/e6/f6/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh3 — queen f3→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc2+ — queen e4→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc2 (knight e3→c2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rd1+ — rook d2→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook e1→d1, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxd1# — rook d8→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/6p1/p3ppP1/1pn4R/4q3/4NQ2/PPPr1P2/1K2R3 w - - 1 36

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.