Chess Puzzle #06gix — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1187 · Beginner · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks a1/e1; knight g5; pawns a2/b3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/e8; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen e4→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ng8 (knight e7→g8).
  4. Best move: Nh7# — knight g5→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Nh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp1qnppp/2p5/6N1/3PQ3/1P6/P4PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 2 17

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