Chess Puzzle #9OQln — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2180 · Expert · attraction, exposed king, hook mate, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g4; queen a6; rook d2; bishop b3; knight e4; pawns a5/b4/c3/f2. Black: king g6; queen e7; rook e8; knight f4; pawns b5/c6/e5/f5/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg3 — king g4→g3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen e7→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh4 (king g3→h4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh8+ — rook e8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg3 (king h4→g3).
  4. Best move: Rh3# — rook h8→h3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, exposed king, hook mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/4q1p1/Q1p3k1/Pp2pp2/1P2NnK1/1BP5/3R1P2/8 w - - 0 33

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