Chess Puzzle #6w0Dp — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1408 · Intermediate · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rook f1; bishops c2/c5; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rook a8; bishop d7; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight e4→c5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f3→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook a8→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pp1b2p1/4p2p/2BpP3/4n2q/2P2Q2/PPB3PP/5RK1 b - - 2 21

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