Chess Puzzle #5CCva — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1192 · Beginner · clearance, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen f3; rook d1; bishop g2; knights c3/e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/g3/h4. Black: king a7; queen c7; rooks d8/f8; bishop g7; knight e7; pawns a6/b6/c5/e5/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd4 — pawn e5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nb5+ — knight c3→b5, gives check. Opponent replies axb5 (pawn a6→b5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qa3+ — queen f3→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king a7→b8).
  4. Best move: Qa8# — queen a3→a8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qa8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r2/k1q1n1bp/pp4p1/2p1pp2/3P3P/2N2QP1/PPP1N1B1/2KR4 b - - 0 23

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