Chess Puzzle #8aDrH — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2039 · Expert · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h3; rooks b1/e1; knight d4; pawns a3/b4/e5/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; rooks c1/c3; bishop e7; knight g6; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rexc1 — rook e1→c1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf4+ — knight g6→f4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg4 (king h3→g4).
  3. Best move: h5+ — pawn h7→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf4 (king g4→f4, captures knight).
  4. Best move: g5# — pawn g7→g5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, pin, sacrifice. The combination ends with g5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p3bppp/4p1n1/3pP3/1P1N1P2/P1r3PK/7P/1Rr1R3 w - - 0 28

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