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

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king e2; queen d4; rooks b7/b8; pawns a4/c5/e3/f2/f3. Black: king d7; queen h2; rooks e6/e8; knight c7; pawns a7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke7 — king d7→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook b8→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe8 (king e7→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rb8+ — rook b7→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
  4. Best move: Qd8# — queen d4→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin. The combination ends with Qd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1R2r3/pRnk1ppp/2p1r3/2P5/P2Q4/4PP2/4KP1q/8 b - - 7 26

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