Chess Puzzle #3D6wP — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1535 · Intermediate · clearance, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h2; queen e2; rook a1; bishop c1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/g2/g6/h3. Black: king c8; queen d4; rook f8; bishop b6; knight f2; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/h4. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g7 — pawn g6→g7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng4+ — knight f2→g4, gives check. Opponent replies hxg4 (pawn h3→g4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qg1+ — queen d4→g1, gives check. Opponent replies Kh3 (king h2→h3).
  4. Best move: Qh1# — queen g1→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k2r2/ppp5/1b2p1P1/4P3/3q3p/2N4P/PPP1QnPK/R1B5 w - - 0 25

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