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

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishops e3/g2; knight h4; pawns a2/c2/d4/f7/g3/h2. Black: king f8; queen b8; rooks a8/h8; bishop g7; knights b4/e7; pawns a6/d6/e4/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxe4 — bishop g2→e4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxa2+ — knight b4→a2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c1→d2).
3. Best move: Qb4+ — queen b8→b4, gives check. Opponent replies c3 (pawn c2→c3).
4. Best move: Qxc3# — queen b4→c3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack. The combination ends with Qxc3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rq3k1r/4nPb1/p2p3p/8/1n1Pp2N/4B1P1/P1P1Q1BP/2KR3R w - - 1 20

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.