Chess Puzzle #FF923 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1646 · Advanced · deflection, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rook a1; bishops d2/f5; knight f1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rook f6; bishops d6/d7; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd7 — bishop f5→d7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf2+ — queen h4→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen f2→f1, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook a1→f1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f6→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1p1b1pp1/p1nb1r1p/3Q1B2/3P3q/2P5/PP1B2PP/R4NK1 w - - 2 23

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