Chess Puzzle #4GCvn — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1181 · Beginner · deflection, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king h4; queen f7; rook c7; bishop f2; knight h2; pawns a2/b2/h3. Black: king h8; queen g2; rook g8; pawns a6/b4/d4/e5/f4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight h2→g4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: g5+ — pawn g7→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh5 (king h4→h5).
  3. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen g2→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bh4 (bishop f2→h4).
  4. Best move: Qxh4# — queen h3→h4, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/2R2Qpp/p7/4p3/1p1p1p1K/7P/PP3BqN/8 w - - 2 39

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