Chess Puzzle #ajR2C — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2550 · Master · clearance, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king f1; queen h8; rooks a1/h1; bishop g3; knight e5; pawns a2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen c2; rook b2; bishop a3; knight e4; pawns c7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg7 — queen h8→g7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nd2+ — knight e4→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f1→e1).
  3. Best move: Nf3+ — knight d2→f3, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qe2# — queen c2→e2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qe2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7Q/2p1kppp/4p3/3pN3/3Pn3/b3P1B1/Prq2PPP/R4K1R w - - 4 18

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