Chess Puzzle #0Hk7S — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1862 · Advanced · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen d6; rook h1; bishop d3; knight e7; pawns a3/b2/c2/g3. Black: king h8; queen a7; rooks b8/d8; bishop e6; pawns f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h1→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qe5+ — queen d6→e5, gives check. Opponent replies f6 (pawn f7→f6).
  4. Best move: Qxf6# — queen e5→f6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxf6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r1r3k/q3Nppp/3Qb3/8/8/P2B2P1/1PP5/1K5R b - - 4 35

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