Chess Puzzle #2LNtB — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1168 · Beginner · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/h3; bishop e5; pawns a2/b3/c3/d4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop e6; pawns a6/b5/c6/f5/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd5 — bishop e6→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh5+ — rook h3→h5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh5 (pawn g6→h5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh5+ — queen f3→h5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  4. Best move: Qh8# — queen h5→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2qr3/5p1k/p1p1b1p1/1p2Bp1p/3P1P2/1PP2Q1R/P5PP/R5K1 b - - 1 28

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