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

Rating 1170 · Beginner · deflection, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king f1; queen d1; rook g1; bishops f4/g6; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/f2/h4. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops a1/d7; knight e7; pawns a6/b5/c7/d6/e4. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxg6 — knight e7→g6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen h5→g6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Bg7 (bishop a1→g7).
  4. Best move: Qxg7# — queen g6→g7, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r2/2pbn2k/p2p2B1/1p1P4/2P1pB1P/1P6/P4P2/b2Q1KR1 b - - 0 21

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