Chess Puzzle #1JUJ1 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1235 · Intermediate · attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/e6; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/e4/f4/g5. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; knights b6/c6; pawns a7/b7/d6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight c6→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h1→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh2+ — queen e2→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
  4. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h2→h6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r1k/pp4bp/1nnpB1p1/6P1/4PP2/8/PP2Q3/RNB1K2R b KQ - 2 19

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