Chess Puzzle #BIZHn — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1491 · Intermediate · deflection, exposed king, fork, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king h1; queen c7; rooks f1/g1; bishops c1/f3; knight a3; pawns a4/b3/h3. Black: king h8; queen d3; rooks a2/g8; knight h5; pawns a6/b7/c5/d4/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf7 — queen c7→f7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng3+ — knight h5→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg3 (rook g1→g3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen d3→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rg1 (rook g3→g1).
  4. Best move: Qxh3# — queen f1→h3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, exposed king, fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/1pQ2pp1/p6p/2p4n/P2p4/NP1q1B1P/r7/2B2RRK w - - 2 30

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