Chess Puzzle #4892C — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1038 · Beginner · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king f1; queen h6; bishop e2; pawns b3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen a2; bishop c6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king h8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bc4+ — bishop e2→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Bd5 (bishop c6→d5).
  3. Best move: Bxd5+ — bishop c4→d5, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  4. Best move: Qf8# — queen h6→f8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/pp5p/2b3pQ/2p2p2/3p4/1P6/q3B1PP/5K2 b - - 1 32

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