Chess Puzzle #4NTyO — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1072 · Beginner · deflection, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king b1; queen b3; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f2; rook c8; bishop b7; knight f8; pawns a6/b5/d7/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd2 — queen f2→d2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen b3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f7→f8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook c8→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r2nk1/1b1p1pp1/p6p/1p6/8/1Q1B2P1/PP3q1P/RK3R2 b - - 1 25

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