Chess Puzzle #4OPez — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1312 · Intermediate · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen d4; rooks g1/g2; bishop f3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/h5. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; knights e5/f7; pawns a5/b5/c6/d6/f4/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf3 — knight e5→f3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg6+ — rook g2→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxg6+ — rook g1→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  4. Best move: Qg7# — queen d4→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/4qn1p/2pp2p1/pp2n2P/3QPp2/2N2B2/PPP2PR1/1K4R1 b - - 0 22

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