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

Rating 1442 · Intermediate · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king f1; queen e1; bishop c6; pawns c3/d5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f4; bishop h7; pawns c7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf2 — queen e1→f2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bd3+ — bishop h7→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king f1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qc1+ — queen f4→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Qe1 (queen f2→e1).
  4. Best move: Qxe1# — queen c1→e1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/2p3pb/2B4p/3P4/5q2/2P5/6PP/4QK2 w - - 6 40

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