Chess Puzzle #8jFX4 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1948 · Advanced · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g3; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishops b2/c2; pawns a2/b3/c4/f2/f3/h3. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks a8/f8; bishop h4; knight f4; pawns a6/b6/d6/e5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh4 — king g3→h4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen c8→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg3 (king h4→g3).
  3. Best move: Qg5+ — queen d8→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g3→h2).
  4. Best move: Qg2# — queen g5→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1q2rk1/5pp1/pp1p3p/4p3/2P2n1b/1P3PKP/PBBQ1P2/R6R w - - 7 24

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