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

Rating 1421 · Intermediate · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen a4; rooks a1/f1; bishop f2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen h6; rooks d8/g4; knight f3; pawns a7/b7/c7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h6→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king h1→h2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh8+ — rook d8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Bh4 (bishop f2→h4).
  4. Best move: Rhxh4# — rook h8→h4, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rhxh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr4/ppp5/7q/8/Q2P2r1/2P2n2/PP3BPP/R4R1K w - - 4 28

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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