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

Rating 1487 · Intermediate · back rank mate, clearance, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king h1; queen f4; rook a7; knight f3; pawns c3/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen h7; bishop c6; knight f5; pawns c4/d5/e6/f7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng5 — knight f3→g5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng3+ — knight f5→g3, gives check. Opponent replies fxg3 (pawn f2→g3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qb1+ — queen h7→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Qc1 (queen f4→c1).
  4. Best move: Qxc1# — queen b1→c1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, clearance, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, pin, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/R4p1q/2b1p3/3pPn2/2pP1Q2/2P2N2/5PPP/7K w - - 14 38

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