Chess Puzzle #4k9Ul — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1049 · Beginner · clearance, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks e1/e4; bishop f6; pawns a3/b2/e5/f2/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks c8/e6; knight e8; pawns a4/b5/c6/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf6 — knight e8→f6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxf6 (rook e6→f6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e4→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook c8→e8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1n1k1/5p2/2p1rBpQ/1p1qP2p/p3R2P/P5P1/1P3P2/4R1K1 b - - 10 35

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