Chess Puzzle #561Z8 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1120 · Beginner · exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rook h7; bishop g6; pawns a2/c2/d4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen e3; rook a8; bishop f8; knight a6; pawns a5/b7/c6/e6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king h8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bf7+ — bishop g6→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qg6+ — queen h5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  4. Best move: Qg8# — queen g6→g8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4b1k/1p5R/n1p1p1Bp/p6Q/3P4/4q2P/P1P3P1/7K b - - 1 22

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