Chess Puzzle #3BEfv — Beginner, Black to move, endgame

Rating 1035 · Beginner · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, swallowstail mate.

Position

White: king e3; rooks c7/e7; pawns b2/c3/d4/g3. Black: king h8; queen d3; bishop e4; pawns a7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf4 — king e3→f4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf3+ — queen d3→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke5 (king f4→e5).
  3. Best move: Qf5+ — queen f3→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd6 (king e5→d6).
  4. Best move: Qd5# — queen f5→d5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, swallowstail mate. The combination ends with Qd5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/p1R1R3/7p/8/3Pb3/2PqK1P1/1P6/8 w - - 7 38

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