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

Rating 1540 · Intermediate · Anastasia’s mate, attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king a1; queen h7; rooks d1/h1; bishop a3; knight e7; pawns a2/b2/f2. Black: king h8; queen d7; rooks b5/e8; knight f6; pawns a6/c7/d5/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh7 — knight f6→h7, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h1→h7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rh1+ — rook d1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Qh3 (queen d7→h3).
  4. Best move: Rxh3# — rook h1→h3, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

Anastasia’s mate, attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/2pqN1pQ/p4n2/1r1p4/8/B7/PP3P2/K2R3R b - - 0 25

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