Chess Puzzle #Ii41z — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1596 · Intermediate · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king b1; queen e1; rooks d1/g1; knight e4; pawns b3/c2/d3/f2/g5/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks a4/f8; bishop g7; pawns a7/c3/c6/c7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh6 — pawn g5→h6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ra1+ — rook a4→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxa1 (king b1→a1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qa3+ — queen b4→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king a1→b1).
  4. Best move: Qb2# — queen a3→b2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p1p3b1/2p4p/6P1/rq2N3/1PpP4/2P2P1P/1K1RQ1R1 w - - 0 27

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