Chess Puzzle #31vXk — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1169 · Beginner · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rook d1; pawns a2/b2/c5/f3/g2. Black: king b8; queen f6; rook h1; pawns a6/b7/c7/g3/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh1 — king g1→h1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen f6→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qh2+ — queen h4→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  4. Best move: Qh1# — queen h2→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k6/1pp5/p4q2/2P4p/8/5Pp1/PP2Q1P1/3R2Kr w - - 4 34

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