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

Rating 2354 · Expert · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin, queenside attack.

Position

White: king b1; queen b3; rooks d1/h1; bishops d2/e4; pawns a2/b2/f3/g2/h4. Black: king h8; queen e5; rook b8; bishop g7; knight b5; pawns a4/b4/d6/f4/g5/h5. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb4 — queen b3→b4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb2+ — queen e5→b2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxb2 (queen b4→b2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Na3+ — knight b5→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b1→c1).
  4. Best move: Bxb2# — bishop g7→b2, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, sacrifice. The combination ends with Bxb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r5k/6b1/3p4/1n2q1pp/pp2Bp1P/1Q3P2/PP1B2P1/1K1R3R w - - 0 31

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