Chess Puzzle #1oq9P — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1494 · Intermediate · exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks a1/h1; bishop d5; knight c4; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks b8/h8; bishops c8/f6; pawns a6/b7/d4/d6/e5/f4/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd7 — bishop c8→d7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen e2→h5, gives check. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
  3. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen h5→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
  4. Best move: Qf7# — queen g6→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1rbqk2r/1p4p1/p2p1b1p/3Bp3/2NpPp2/P2P3P/1PP1QPP1/R3K2R b KQk - 3 15

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.