Chess Puzzle #Y0li9 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1937 · Advanced · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/e1; bishop f1; knights a3/d2; pawns a4/b2/c3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen f6; rooks b8/h8; bishops e6/g7; pawns a6/b7/c5/d6/f7/g3/g4. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg3 — pawn h2→g3, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd4+ — queen f6→d4, gives check. Opponent replies cxd4 (pawn c3→d4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bxd4+ — bishop g7→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Re3 (rook e1→e3).
  4. Best move: Bxe3# — bishop d4→e3, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Bxe3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r2k2r/1p3pb1/p2pbq2/2p5/P3P1p1/N1P3p1/1PQN2PP/R3RBK1 w k - 0 23

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.