Chess Puzzle #0rR9j — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 759 · Beginner · exposed king, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen f1; rooks c7/g1; bishop d4; pawns a3/b5/d3/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks a8/h5; knight b6; pawns a5/b7/f3/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h4 — pawn h2→h4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh4+ — rook h5→h4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh4 (pawn g3→h4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh4+ — queen h6→h4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qh3 (queen f1→h3).
  4. Best move: Qxh3# — queen h4→h3, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1pR3pp/1n5q/pP5r/3B4/P2PPpP1/5P1P/5QRK w - - 1 27

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.