Chess Puzzle #5hDuy — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1437 · Intermediate · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks a1/h4; bishops c1/f7; knights b1/g5; pawns a2/c3/d3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops a5/c8; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight c6→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h4→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen g6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nh7 (knight f6→h7).
  4. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h6→h7, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1r1k/ppp2Bp1/2n2nQp/b5N1/7R/2PP4/P5PP/RNB3K1 b - - 2 15

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