Chess Puzzle #4V9B2 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1104 · Beginner · endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king h1; queen e6; rook f1; knight c4; pawns b3/d5/e4/g5/h4. Black: king h8; queen d8; rook a2; bishop f4; pawns b4/d6/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd6 — knight c4→d6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh2+ — rook a2→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qb6+ — queen d8→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Rf2 (rook f1→f2).
  4. Best move: Qxf2# — queen b6→f2, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3q3k/6pp/3pQ3/3Pp1P1/1pN1Pb1P/1P6/r7/5R1K w - - 3 32

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