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

Rating 1371 · Intermediate · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king e2; queen e5; rooks c6/g2; knight e4; pawns d3/f2/h4. Black: king h8; queen a2; rooks f3/f8; bishop b6; pawns b5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd2 — knight e4→d2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf2+ — rook f3→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook g2→f2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxf2+ — rook f8→f2, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e2→d1).
  4. Best move: Qxd2# — queen a2→d2, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxd2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/6p1/1bR4p/1p2Q3/4N2P/3P1r2/q3KPR1/8 w - - 1 38

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