Chess Puzzle #1zx3Y — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1294 · Intermediate · attraction, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king e2; queen d8; rooks c1/h3; pawns b3/c2/d3/e4/f3/g2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a2/f7; pawns b4/c5/d6/f4/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg7 — king g8→g7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g7→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rh1+ — rook c1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h7→g7).
  4. Best move: Qh8# — queen d8→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3Q2k1/5r1p/3p2p1/2p5/1p1qPp2/1P1P1P1R/r1P1K1P1/2R5 b - - 4 31

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