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

Rating 1531 · Intermediate · attraction, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rook a1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g3. Black: king g7; queen f5; rook h5; pawns a7/b7/c6/f3/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re1 — rook a1→e1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h5→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh1 (king g1→h1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh3+ — queen f5→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  4. Best move: Qg2# — queen h3→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/pp4kp/2p3p1/5q1r/3P4/2P1QpP1/PP3P2/R5K1 w - - 11 39

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