Chess Puzzle #0pU5W — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 663 · Beginner · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rook e3; bishop b3; pawns a3/b4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen h4; rooks f6/g7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d4/f5/h6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe3 — pawn d4→e3, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d3→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f6→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen d8→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook g7→g8).
  4. Best move: Qxg8# — queen f8→g8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/pp4rp/2p2r1p/5p2/1P1p3q/PB1QR3/6PP/7K b - - 0 33

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