Chess Puzzle #3m4l6 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1280 · Intermediate · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen c6; rooks e1/f1; bishop c4; pawns c2/d3/f4/h3. Black: king h8; queen h4; rooks a7/f8; bishop f2; pawns a5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook e1→e8. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen h4→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king h2→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen g3→h3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/r5p1/2Q4p/p7/2B2P1q/3P3P/2P2b1K/4RR2 w - - 1 28

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