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

Rating 2255 · Expert · attraction, deflection, double check, endgame, long, mate.

Position

White: king g1; queen c1; rook f1; knight a7; pawns a3/b5/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f3; bishop d5; knight e4; pawns b6/e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd1 — queen c1→d1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh1+ — queen f3→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh1 (king g1→h1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxf2+ — knight e4→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  4. Best move: Nh3# — knight f2→h3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, double check, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Nh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/N4pp1/1p2p2p/1P1b4/4n3/P3PqP1/5P1P/2Q2RK1 w - - 2 33

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.