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

Rating 1261 · Intermediate · exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knight e5; pawns a3/c5/d4/e2/f4/g2/g3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop b5; knight e4; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f6 — pawn f7→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen f3→h5, gives check. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
  3. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen h5→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  4. Best move: Qf7# — queen g6→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/1p3pp1/p3p2p/1bPpN3/3PnP2/P4QP1/4P1P1/R3KB1R b KQkq - 2 17

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