Chess Puzzle #5EyHo — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1332 · Intermediate · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h2; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishop c4; pawns a4/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks f8/g6; knight f4; pawns a5/b7/d4/e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg1 — rook f1→g1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook g6→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg2 (rook g1→g2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen d7→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
  4. Best move: Qxg2# — queen h3→g2, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1p1q1ppp/6r1/p3p3/P1BpPn2/7P/1PPQ1PPK/R4R2 w - - 9 23

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