Chess Puzzle #3wZ8A — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1317 · Intermediate · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rook d1; bishops c3/e2; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/e3/f2. Black: king g8; queen h3; rook c8; bishop b8; knight g4; pawns a6/b5/d5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen b3→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bh2+ — bishop b8→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh2 (knight f3→h2, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h3→h2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  4. Best move: Qxf2# — queen h2→f2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1br3k1/5pp1/p6p/1p1p4/6n1/1QB1PN1q/PP2BP2/3R2K1 w - - 2 29

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