Chess Puzzle #1LoL2 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1064 · Beginner · deflection, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen e1; rook a1; bishops b3/c1; knight c5; pawns a3/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook a8; bishop c8; knight g4; pawns a7/b5/c6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen b6→c5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen c5→f8).
  3. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop b3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/p4ppp/1qp5/1pN5/6n1/PB6/1P3PPP/R1B1Q1K1 b - - 0 19

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