Chess Puzzle #1Cwry — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1091 · Beginner · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rooks a1/e2; bishop c4; knight h5; pawns a2/b3/c2/e4/g2/g4. Black: king h6; queen d8; rooks a8/f7; bishops c8/g3; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d7/e5/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf7 — queen f5→f7, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d8→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qh2+ — queen h4→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  4. Best move: Qh1# — queen h2→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bq4/1p1p1r2/p1n3pk/4pQ1N/2B1P1P1/1P4b1/P1P1R1P1/R6K w - - 0 23

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