Chess Puzzle #55n9J — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1291 · Intermediate · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rooks a1/e1; bishop b2; knight g3; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks f8/h6; bishop g4; pawns a7/b7/c7/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re7 — rook e1→e7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh2+ — queen h4→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh1 (knight g3→h1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxh1# — rook h6→h1, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/ppp3pp/5p1r/3P4/2P3bq/1PQ3N1/PB3PP1/R3R1K1 w - - 4 25

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