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

Rating 1155 · Beginner · deflection, endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king b1; queen e7; rooks d8/e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks c8/h8; pawns a6/f6/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook c8→d8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen e7→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  3. Best move: Re7+ — rook e2→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king h7→h6).
  4. Best move: Qxh8# — queen d8→h8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rR2kr/4Q3/p4pp1/6qp/8/7P/PPP1R3/1K6 b - - 3 31

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