Chess Puzzle #J5oSC — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2111 · Expert · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h3; queen a6; rooks f1/f4; pawns a4/b2/c2/g3/h2. Black: king g6; queen g5; rooks e2/e4; pawns f6/g7/h5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd3 — queen a6→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg4+ — queen g5→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg4+ (rook f4→g4, captures queen, gives check).
  3. Best move: hxg4+ — pawn h5→g4, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh4 (king h3→h4).
  4. Best move: Rxh2# — rook e2→h2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/6p1/Q4pk1/6qp/P3rR2/6PK/1PP1r2P/5R2 w - - 1 28

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