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

Rating 697 · Beginner · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rook b1; knight h3; pawns c3/d4/f2/g2/h6. Black: king h8; queen f6; rooks a4/f7; bishop c6; pawns b5/c4/d5/e6/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfa7 — rook f7→a7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb8+ — queen g3→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Be8 (bishop c6→e8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen b8→e8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen f6→f8).
  4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 7k/5r1p/2b1pqpP/1p1p1p2/r1pP4/2P3QN/5PP1/1R4K1 b - - 8 44

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