Chess Puzzle #1zKr5 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1295 · Intermediate · exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g2; rooks a6/h1; bishop d3; knight g5; pawns d4/f2/f6/h7. Black: king h8; queen d1; rook f8; bishop c3; knight f5; pawns d5/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd3 — queen d1→d3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight g5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a6→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook a8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/5p1P/R3pPp1/3p1nN1/3P4/2bB4/5PK1/3q3R b - - 2 32

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