Chess Puzzle #6awDQ — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1481 · Intermediate · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h2; queen e3; rooks f1/g1; knights f3/g3; pawns a5/c3/d3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen h6; rooks f8/g6; knights f4/f5; pawns b7/c7/d6/e5/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf5 — knight g3→f5, captures knight. 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 h6→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: 5r1k/1pp3pp/3pp1rq/P3pn2/4Pn2/2PPQNNP/5PPK/5RR1 w - - 1 25

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