Chess Puzzle #0M79r — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1190 · Beginner · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rook d7; bishop f7; pawns f2/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen e5; rook f8; bishop g7; pawns b5/e4/f5/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e3 — pawn e4→e3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen a6→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxh5+ — queen g6→h5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
  4. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h5→h6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/3R1Bbk/Q5p1/1p2qp1p/4p3/7P/5PP1/6K1 b - - 0 36

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.