Chess Puzzle #M9jXB — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1549 · Intermediate · deflection, endgame, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks d1/d2; pawns a3/b3/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f7; rooks d8/f8; bishop e5; pawns a7/b6/c6/e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen g3→e5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f7→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook d2→f2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook d8→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f2→f1).
  4. Best move: Rdxf1# — rook d1→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rdxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/p4qp1/1pp1p2p/4b3/4P3/PP4Q1/2PR1PPP/3R2K1 w - - 0 24

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