Chess Puzzle #1gfu4 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 714 · Beginner · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pillsburys mate.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks d1/e1; bishop g6; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks a8/f6; bishops c8/d6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f4/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe5 — bishop d6→e5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d3→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen c7→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f6→f8).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook d8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pillsburys mate. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b4k/ppq3p1/2pb1rBp/4N3/5p2/2PQ4/PP3PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 0 20

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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