Chess Puzzle #4Oc6b — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 1064 · Beginner · clearance, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks a1/g1; bishops b2/g2; knights d2/d3; pawns a2/b4/c4/d5/e4/f3/h2. Black: king h8; queen e8; rooks a8/f8; bishops d7/e7; knights b7/h5; pawns a7/b6/c7/d6/e5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Raf1 — rook a1→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng3+ — knight h5→g3, gives check. Opponent replies hxg3 (pawn h2→g3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen e8→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Bh3 (bishop g2→h3).
  4. Best move: Qxh3# — queen h5→h3, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3qr1k/pnpbb3/1p1p3p/3Pp2n/1PP1P3/3N1P2/PBQN2BP/R5RK w - - 3 21

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