Chess Puzzle #f9WLJ — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2402 · Master · attraction, deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king h2; queen a7; rooks e1/e8; bishop g2; knight g1; pawns a2/b2/c3/f3/h3. Black: king h7; queen f2; rook h4; bishop g7; knight g5; pawns b6/f4/f7/g6/h6. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: R1e2 — rook e1→e2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight g5→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight g1→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook h4→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh3 (king h2→h3, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qg3# — queen f2→g3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qg3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4R3/Q4pbk/1p4pp/6n1/5p1r/2P2P1P/PP3qBK/4R1N1 w - - 0 33

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