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

Rating 1590 · Intermediate · attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rook f1; bishop c4; knight d5; pawns a2/b6/d3/e4/g2/g3. Black: king b8; queen d7; rook h8; knights a1/g4; pawns b7/d6/e5/g5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf3 — queen d1→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h8→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh1 (king g1→h1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d7→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  4. Best move: Qh2# — queen h7→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/1p1q4/1P1p4/3Np1p1/2B1P1n1/3P2P1/P5P1/n2Q1RK1 w - - 1 23

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