Chess Puzzle #31zgH — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1430 · Intermediate · attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen g5; rooks a1/h3; bishop e3; pawns a3/b2/e5/f6/g4/h2. Black: king h8; queen e2; rooks a8/g8; bishops c8/f8; pawns a7/b7/c4/d4/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd7 — bishop c8→d7. 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 g5→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop f8→h6).
  4. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h4→h6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1b2brk/pp3p1p/4pPp1/4P1Q1/2pp2P1/P3B2R/1P2q2P/R6K b - - 0 23

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