Chess Puzzle #7MJ6d — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1436 · Intermediate · attraction, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h2; queen c5; rook d8; pawns a5/f4/f6/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen b1; bishop b3; pawns a6/c2/c7/f7/g6/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c1=Q — pawn c2→c1, promotes to queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook d8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king h7→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen c5→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
  4. Best move: Qg7# — queen f8→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3R4/2p2p1k/p4Pp1/P1Q4p/5P2/1b5P/2p3PK/1q6 b - - 1 36

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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