Chess Puzzle #80cO8 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1595 · Intermediate · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen f4; rooks a1/g1; bishop d3; knight c4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks g8/h6; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh2 — king h1→h2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook g8→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: Qh1# — queen h3→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k3r1/pppqnp2/3p3r/3P4/2N1PQ2/3B3P/PPP2PP1/R5RK w - - 3 22

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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