Chess Puzzle #2NOhG — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1268 · Intermediate · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king h3; queen f3; pawns b3/g6/h4. Black: king g8; queen b4; knight e4; pawns b5/c7/d5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd6 — queen b4→d6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qe8+ — queen f7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen d6→f8).
  4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2p2pp1/6P1/1p1p4/1q2n2P/1P3Q1K/8/8 b - - 0 43

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