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

Rating 1147 · Beginner · clearance, deflection, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g2; queen f2; rook f5; knight d6; pawns b3/c4/e5/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen b1; rook g6; knight e6; pawns a5/c5/d4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb3 — queen b1→b3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f5→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf8 (knight e6→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f2→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen f7→f8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 6k1/6pp/3Nn1r1/p1p1PR2/2Pp4/1P4P1/5QKP/1q6 b - - 8 37

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