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

Rating 1330 · Intermediate · attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f4/f6/g2. Black: king f8; queen d7; rooks a8/h7; knight g8; pawns a6/b7/c5/d5/e6/g3/g5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg5 — pawn f4→g5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h7→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh1 (king g1→h1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d7→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  4. Best move: Qh2# — queen h7→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4kn1/1p1q3r/p3pP2/2pp2p1/5P2/3P2p1/PPPQ2P1/RNB2RK1 w - - 0 16

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