Chess Puzzle #1pks1 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1370 · Intermediate · endgame, long, master, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king h1; queen b3; rook b2; bishop e2; pawns a2/c5/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rook c8; pawns a5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h3. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bg4 — bishop e2→g4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe4+ — queen d4→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Qf3 (queen b3→f3).
  3. Best move: Qe1+ — queen e4→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Qf1 (queen f3→f1).
  4. Best move: Qxf1# — queen e1→f1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, master, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5pp1/4p3/p1Pp4/3q1P2/1Q4Pp/PR2B2P/7K w - - 2 34

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.