Chess Puzzle #25JGk — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1121 · Beginner · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king f1; queen d6; rooks b1/d1; knight a3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/d5/f2/g2. Black: king a8; queen g8; rook h8; bishop f4; pawns a7/b7/c5/e5/f6. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nb5 — knight a3→b5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h8→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f1→e2).
  3. Best move: Qg4+ — queen g8→g4, gives check. Opponent replies f3 (pawn f2→f3).
  4. Best move: Qxg2# — queen g4→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: k5qr/pp6/3Q1p2/2pPp3/5b2/N1PP4/PP3PP1/1R1R1K2 w - - 1 25

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