Chess Puzzle #08vX3 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1062 · Beginner · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rook e1; bishop f2; pawns a2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e2; rooks a1/d2; bishop e6; pawns e5/f4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxa1 — rook e1→a1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rd1+ — rook d2→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook a1→d1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd1+ — queen e2→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Be1 (bishop f2→e1).
  4. Best move: Qxe1# — queen d1→e1, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/Q5pp/4b3/4p3/5p2/5P2/P2rqBPP/r3R1K1 w - - 0 31

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