Chess Puzzle #437IM — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rook b7; knight d6; pawns a2/c6/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rook f8; knight d2; pawns a5/d5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen a6→e2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight d2→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Qc1+ — queen g5→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen e2→d1).
4. Best move: Qxd1# — queen c1→d1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, pin. The combination ends with Qxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1R3pp1/Q1PN3p/p2pP1q1/8/8/P2n1PPP/6K1 w - - 1 31

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.