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

Rating 1555 · Intermediate · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks f1/g3; bishops e4/e5; pawns b2/b3/c2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks c5/e8; bishops c8/h6; pawns a6/b5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rcxe5 — rook c5→e5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen h5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook e8→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2b1r1k1/5ppp/pq5b/1pr1B2Q/4B3/1P4R1/1PP3PP/5R1K b - - 8 24

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