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

Rating 1480 · Intermediate · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen c7; rooks d1/g3; bishop e4; pawns a3/b4/f2/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks e5/e8; knight f4; pawns a6/b5/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rdg1 — rook d1→g1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h5→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king h1→h2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh5+ — rook e5→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Rh3 (rook g3→h3).
  4. Best move: Rxh3# — rook h5→h3, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/2Q2pp1/p7/1p2r2q/1P2Bn2/P4PR1/5P1P/3R3K w - - 3 30

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