Chess Puzzle #DF1Bf — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1583 · Intermediate · fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c8; rooks c1/e1; bishops f1/h2; knights a8/d2; pawns a5/b4/d5/e4/f2/g3. Black: king h7; queen h5; rook g7; bishop f8; knights g5/h4; pawns a7/b7/d6/e5/f4/g4. White is ahead by 8 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf8 — queen c8→f8, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nhf3+ — knight h4→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight d2→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight g5→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  4. Best move: Qxh2# — queen h5→h2, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: N1Q2b2/pp4rk/3p4/P2Pp1nq/1P2Pppn/6P1/3N1P1B/2R1RBK1 w - - 1 30

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