Chess Puzzle #1Qjfd — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2273 · Expert · attraction, deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen d4; rooks d6/e8; bishop f5; pawns a2/c3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen b2; rooks c7/g5; bishop d3; pawns a6/c4/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf5 — bishop d3→f5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook e8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king h7→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook d6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  4. Best move: Qd8# — queen d4→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4R3/2r2ppk/p2R3p/5Br1/2pQ4/2Pb1P2/Pq4PP/7K b - - 3 32

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