Chess Puzzle #2gWD0 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1165 · Beginner · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king e2; queen c4; rook h3; bishops a2/e3; pawns a3/c2/f2/f3. Black: king h8; queen b2; rooks e8/f8; bishop g7; pawns g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb7 — queen b2→b7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh4+ — queen c4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
  4. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h4→h6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rr1k/6bp/6p1/8/2Q5/P3BP1R/BqP1KP2/8 b - - 0 28

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