Chess Puzzle #39en4 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1071 · Beginner · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, morphys mate.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook f1; bishops a5/b1; pawns a2/b2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen f3; rook h8; bishops b7/f8; knight d7; pawns a6/b5/e6/f6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rg8+ — rook h8→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Bg6 (bishop b1→g6).
  3. Best move: Rxg6+ — rook g8→g6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  4. Best move: Bxf3# — bishop b7→f3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, morphys mate. The combination ends with Bxf3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4kb1r/1b1n1p1p/p3pp2/Bp6/8/4Pq2/PP1Q1PPP/1B3RK1 w k - 0 20

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