Chess Puzzle #1ZK16 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1265 · Intermediate · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king a1; queen c2; rooks d1/d7; pawns a2/c3/f4/g5/h5. Black: king g8; queen e3; rooks b8/c8; pawns a4/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc3 — rook c8→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook b8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  4. Best move: h6# — pawn h5→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with h6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1rr3k1/3R1p1p/4p1p1/6PP/p4P2/2P1q3/P1Q5/K2R4 b - - 3 27

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