Chess Puzzle #93xJS — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1830 · Advanced · exposed king, fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king a1; queen a5; rooks b1/h1; bishop c4; pawns a3/d4/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rook c2; knight f8; pawns a4/c6/f6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb2 — rook b1→b2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa3+ — queen d6→a3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ra2 (rook b2→a2).
  3. Best move: Rc1+ — rook c2→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook h1→c1, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxc1# — queen a3→c1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5nk1/5pp1/2pq1p1p/Q7/p1BP1P2/P5P1/2r4P/KR5R w - - 4 27

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