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

Rating 2374 · Expert · fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, quiet move.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f3; bishops c1/e2; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c4/d4/e4/g2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; knights f6/g3; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd5 — pawn c4→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng4 — knight f6→g4. Opponent replies Rxg3 (rook f3→g3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh2+ — queen h4→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  4. Best move: Qh1# — queen h2→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp3ppp/2p2n2/3p4/2PPP2q/P1N2Rn1/1P2B1P1/R1BQ2K1 w - - 4 16

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