Chess Puzzle #Iwls6 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1403 · Intermediate · double check, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rook d7; bishop g2; pawns a2/e2/f4/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; knights f6/g4; pawns a6/b7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb7 — rook d7→b7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf2+ — knight g4→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Nh3+ — knight f2→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  4. Best move: Qf2# — queen b6→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

double check, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4k3/1p1R2p1/pq3n1p/5Q2/5Pn1/6P1/P3P1BP/7K w - - 1 29

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