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

Rating 1403 · Intermediate · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king a1; queen f5; rooks c1/h1; bishop b5; pawns a4/c2/e3/f4/g6/h3. Black: king f8; queen c3; rooks a8/h8; bishop f7; pawns a7/b7/e4/g7/h4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kb1 — king a1→b1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qb4+ — queen c3→b4, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
  3. Best move: Qa3+ — queen b4→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king a1→b1).
  4. Best move: Qa2# — queen a3→a2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack. The combination ends with Qa2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4k1r/pp3bp1/6P1/1B3Q2/P3pP1p/2q1P2P/2P5/K1R4R w - - 3 33

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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