Chess Puzzle #2PwgQ — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1502 · Intermediate · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king c1; queen h3; rooks d1/h1; knight a4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks d8/e8; bishop d4; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd4 — rook d1→d4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re1+ — rook e8→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook h1→e1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen a5→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rd1 (rook d4→d1).
  4. Best move: Rxd1# — rook d8→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack. The combination ends with Rxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/pp3p2/2p3p1/q7/N2b4/7Q/PPP2PP1/2KR3R w - - 2 21

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