Chess Puzzle #6LGMV — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1547 · Intermediate · advanced pawn, collinear move, discovered check, double check, exposed king, kingside attack.

Position

White: king c1; queen g5; rooks g1/h1; bishop c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/d5/e4/f2/h6. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop e6; knight f6; pawns a5/b6/c7/d6/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook f8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg7+ — queen g5→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg7 (rook g8→g7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: hxg7+ — pawn h6→g7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  4. Best move: Rh8# — rook h1→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, collinear move, discovered check, double check, exposed king, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r1k/2p2p2/1p1pbn1P/p2Pp1Q1/4P3/P1B5/1PP2P2/2K3RR b - - 4 25

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