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

Rating 1349 · Intermediate · clearance, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king f2; queen g2; rooks g1/g3; knights c3/h5; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f3/h4. Black: king h7; queen d6; rooks e8/f8; bishop f5; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh5 — pawn g6→h5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rg7+ — rook g3→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  3. Best move: Rh7+ — rook g7→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh7 (bishop f5→h7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qg7# — queen g2→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rr2/pp2n2k/2pq2p1/3p1b1N/3P3P/2N1PPR1/PP3KQ1/6R1 b - - 0 23

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