Chess Puzzle #0k0GC — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 968 · Beginner · fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/h7; bishops c1/c2; knight b1; pawns a2/b4/c3/d5/f4/g4/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f7; bishops c8/e7; knights a5/g7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king h8→h7, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen d3→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh7+ — queen g6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  4. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bq3k/pp2brnR/2pp2p1/n2P4/1P3PP1/2PQ4/P1B4P/RNB3K1 b - - 0 20

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