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

Rating 1425 · Intermediate · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h2; queen f6; rook f3; bishop g2; pawns d5/e5/g3/h6. Black: king g8; queens a1/b2; rook b8; pawns d6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen b2→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f6→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook b8→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f3→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/5p1p/3p1QpP/3PP3/8/5RP1/1q4BK/q7 b - - 0 32

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