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

Rating 2349 · Expert · exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; rooks b1/d1; bishop f4; knight e1; pawns a2/b2/d3/f3/g3. Black: king c8; rooks c2/e2; bishop h3; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rbc1 — rook b1→c1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e2→e1, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook d1→e1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight d4→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  4. Best move: Bg2# — bishop h3→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Bg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k5/pp4p1/7p/8/3n1B2/3P1PPb/PPr1r3/1R1RN1K1 w - - 3 27

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