Chess Puzzle #23RwR — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1204 · Intermediate · endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king f2; queen h6; rooks d1/d4; bishop b3; pawns a2/b2/e5/f6/g4. Black: king h7; queen b6; rook d8; bishop c5; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh6 — king h7→h6, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook d1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king h6→g5).
  3. Best move: Rh5+ — rook h1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king g5→g6).
  4. Best move: Bc2# — bishop b3→c2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Bc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/pp3p1k/1q2pP1Q/2b1P3/3R2P1/1B6/PP3K2/3R4 b - - 0 30

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.