Chess Puzzle #6PCzk — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1655 · Advanced · attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/h5; knights c3/g5; pawns a3/b2/e5/g4. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks d8/f8; knights d4/e7; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f6 — pawn f7→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h5→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh2+ — queen d2→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  4. Best move: Qh7# — queen h2→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/1p1qnpp1/p3p3/4P1NR/3n2P1/P1N5/1P1Q4/R3K3 b Q - 1 20

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