Chess Puzzle #3KjFT — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1857 · Advanced · attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king h2; queen h5; rooks a1/f4; bishop e5; pawns a3/b3/c2/d3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishops b8/d5; pawns a5/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g6 — pawn g7→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h5→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh4+ — rook f4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  4. Best move: Rh8# — rook h4→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rb3rk1/1p1q1ppp/2p5/p2bB2Q/5R2/PP1P3P/2P3PK/R7 b - - 3 21

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