Chess Puzzle #1x4NO — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1368 · Intermediate · deflection, endgame, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks g3/h4; pawns b2/b3/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks f7/f8; pawns a6/b5/c6/d5/f6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a5 — pawn a6→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h4→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen g6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rh7 (rook f7→h7).
  4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen h6→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/2q2rp1/p1p2pQp/1p1p4/3P3R/1P4RP/1P3PP1/6K1 b - - 1 32

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