Chess Puzzle #30nzd — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1003 · Beginner · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rooks e1/e7; pawns a2/b5/c3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b8; rook d8; bishop g7; knight c4; pawns a7/b6/d5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf4 — queen b8→f4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
  4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen b4→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1q1r2k1/p3Rpbp/1p4p1/1P1p4/1Qn2P2/2P5/P5PP/4R1K1 b - - 3 30

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