Chess Puzzle #3O3tv — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1247 · Intermediate · exposed king, hook mate, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king b1; rooks h1/h3; bishop d1; knight g5; pawns a2/b3/c2/d2/f4. Black: king g8; queen f2; rooks a8/d8; knight c6; pawns a7/b6/c5/d5/e4/g6. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight c6→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h3→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  3. Best move: R1h7+ — rook h1→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g7→f6).
  4. Best move: Rf7# — rook h7→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, hook mate, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/p7/1pn3p1/2pp2N1/4pP2/1P5R/P1PP1q2/1K1B3R b - - 0 29

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