Chess Puzzle #3Udpb — Advanced, White to move, opening

Rating 1697 · Advanced · double check, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/e1; bishop g2; knights g5/h6; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e5/f2/g3/h5. Black: king h7; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/e7; knights c6/d5; pawns a5/b4/c5/d4/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh6 — king h7→h6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight g5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h6→h7).
  3. Best move: Qh6+ — queen d2→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  4. Best move: Qg6# — queen h6→g6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

double check, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qg6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/1b1qbp1k/2n1p2N/p1pnP1NP/1p1p4/P2P2P1/1PPQ1PB1/R3R1K1 b - - 4 20

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