Chess Puzzle #5EV7p — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2210 · Expert · advanced pawn, attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king b1; queen c6; rooks d7/e1; bishop e4; pawns a3/c2/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen g5; rook b8; bishops c4/g7; pawns a5/b2/g6/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h4 — pawn h2→h4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc1+ — queen g5→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook e1→c1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Ba2+ — bishop c4→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Kxa2 (king b1→a2, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: bxc1=N# — pawn b2→c1, captures rook, promotes to knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, promotion, queenside attack, sacrifice, underpromotion. The combination ends with bxc1=N# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/3R2bk/2Q3pp/p5q1/2b1B3/P7/1pP3PP/1K2R3 w - - 4 33

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