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

Rating 1489 · Intermediate · clearance, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g2; queen g6; rook e1; knight e5; pawns a4/b2/c2/d3/g4/h4. Black: king h8; queen d8; rook f4; knight h3; pawns a6/c5/d4/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh4 — queen d8→h4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf7+ — knight e5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f4→f7, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3q3k/6p1/p5Qp/2p1N3/P2p1rPP/3P3n/1PP3K1/4R3 b - - 2 30

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