Chess Puzzle #4Pq2P — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1063 · Beginner · exposed king, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks f1/h3; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks a8/g7; bishops d5/g5; pawns a7/b6/c5/e6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rag8 — rook a8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h5→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh6 (bishop g5→h6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h3→h6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rh7 (rook g7→h7).
  4. Best move: Rxh7# — rook h6→h7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6k/p1q2pr1/1p2p2p/2pb2bQ/8/2PB3R/PP3PPP/5RK1 b - - 7 24

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