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

Rating 1258 · Intermediate · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king b1; queen d3; rook h1; bishop f1; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks c8/e8; bishop d1; pawns a6/b7/d6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d3→d4, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bc2+ — bishop d1→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
  3. Best move: Re1+ — rook e8→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Nb1 (knight d2→b1).
  4. Best move: Rxb1# — rook e1→b1, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack. The combination ends with Rxb1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/1p3pp1/p2p3p/3P4/3q4/3Q4/PP1N1PPP/1K1b1B1R w - - 0 20

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