Chess Puzzle #16Ifr — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1493 · Intermediate · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g2; queen h3; rooks e1/h1; bishop d2; knight g5; pawns a2/c2/d4/f2/g3. Black: king f8; queen c3; rooks a8/e8; knights f6/g6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd2 — queen c3→d2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h3→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh8 (knight g6→h8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxh8+ — rook h1→h8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Ng8 (knight f6→g8).
  4. Best move: Nh7# — knight g5→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Nh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3rk2/ppp2pp1/5nn1/3p2N1/3P4/2q3PQ/P1PB1PK1/4R2R b - - 1 20

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