Chess Puzzle #C1vev — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1546 · Intermediate · endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king f1; queen a5; rooks a1/e5; bishop f2; pawns a2/b2/c2/c5/h2. Black: king c8; queen f3; rook d2; knight f4; pawns a7/c7/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd2 — queen a5→d2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg2+ — queen f3→g2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f1→e1).
  3. Best move: Qh1+ — queen g2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Bg1 (bishop f2→g1).
  4. Best move: Qxg1# — queen h1→g1, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxg1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k5/p1p2pp1/7p/Q1P1R3/5n2/5q2/PPPr1B1P/R4K2 w - - 1 27

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