Chess Puzzle #4BRGo — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1391 · Intermediate · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rook e1; bishop h2; knight a6; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen f7; bishop d5; knight e4; pawns b5/c6/c7/g5/h6. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc7 — knight a6→c7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f7→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Ng3+ — knight e4→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Bxg3 (bishop h2→g3, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxg2# — queen f2→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k5/2p2q2/N1p4p/1p1b2p1/1Q2n3/7P/PPP2PPB/4R1K1 w - - 1 25

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