Chess Puzzle #2tZB4 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1231 · Intermediate · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king f1; queen a5; rook a8; bishop c5; pawns d6/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen f7; rooks b8/d7; bishop g7; knight d4; pawns b7/e5/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nb3 — knight d4→b3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxb8+ — rook a8→b8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb8 (king c8→b8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qa7+ — queen a5→a7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
  4. Best move: Qa8# — queen a7→a8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack. The combination ends with Qa8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: Rrk5/1p1r1qb1/3P3p/Q1B1p1p1/3nP3/8/5PPP/5K2 b - - 4 31

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