Chess Puzzle #05fKp — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 934 · Beginner · endgame, fork, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king f1; queen f3; bishop d5; pawns g5/h5. Black: king g8; queen d6; rook e8; bishop e3; pawns a6/b7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg5 — bishop e3→g5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen f7→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8+ (queen d6→f8, gives check).
  4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, fork, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1p3ppp/p2q4/3B2PP/8/4bQ2/8/5K2 b - - 0 40

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.