Chess Puzzle #4nt9y — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1371 · Intermediate · discovered attack, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; rooks g3/h1; bishops f1/h6; knight g7; pawns a2/c2/c3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/e7; knights c6/g4; pawns a6/b7/e5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh6 — knight g4→h6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g7→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Ng4 (knight h6→g4).
  3. Best move: Rxg4+ — rook g3→g4, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Bg5 (bishop e7→g5).
  4. Best move: Rxg5# — rook g4→g5, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxg5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b3kr/1p2bpNp/p1n4B/4p3/4P1n1/2P3R1/P1P2PPP/4KB1R b K - 6 16

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