Chess Puzzle #9CSpI — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1685 · Advanced · attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop c4; pawns a4/b2/c2/d3/e4/f2/g2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d4/d6/f7/g3/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd5 — bishop c4→d5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h8→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh1 (king g1→h1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d8→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  4. Best move: Qh2# — queen h4→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/ppp2pp1/3p4/3n4/P1BpP3/3P2p1/1PP2PP1/R2Q1RK1 w kq - 0 14

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