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

Rating 1272 · Intermediate · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c5/e2; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights c6/e5; pawns a6/b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf8 — bishop c5→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king e1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qh3+ — queen e6→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh3 (rook h1→h3, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Bxh3# — bishop c8→h3, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The combination ends with Bxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1p3ppp/p1n1q3/2B1n1P1/7P/1N6/PPP1BP2/R2QK2R w KQ - 2 16

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.