Chess Puzzle #16CpX — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1016 · Beginner · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, morphys mate.

Position

White: king h1; queen e7; rooks a1/e1; pawns b4/c2/c3/e5/f2/h2. Black: king c8; rook g8; bishop d7; pawns a7/b7/d4/e6/f5/f7/h7. White is ahead by 10 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxa7 — rook a1→a7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bc6+ — bishop d7→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Re4 (rook e1→e4).
  3. Best move: Bxe4+ — bishop c6→e4, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies f3 (pawn f2→f3).
  4. Best move: Bxf3# — bishop e4→f3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, morphys mate. The combination ends with Bxf3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k3r1/pp1bQp1p/4p3/4Pp2/1P1p4/2P5/2P2P1P/R3R2K w - - 2 26

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.