Chess Puzzle #0Lw53 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1507 · Intermediate · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks c1/g1; bishop b1; knight c2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/f8; bishop e2; knight e4; pawns a5/c6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe2 — queen f3→e2, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng3+ — knight e4→g3, gives check. Opponent replies hxg3 (pawn h2→g3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh6+ — queen g5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Qh5 (queen e2→h5).
  4. Best move: Qxh5# — queen h6→h5, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/5ppp/2p1p3/p2p2q1/3Pn3/2P2Q2/PPN1b1PP/1BR3RK w - - 8 19

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.