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

Rating 1555 · Intermediate · attraction, dovetail mate, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king e1; queen g4; rooks a1/h6; bishop f4; pawns a3/b2/c5/d4/e3/f2/g3. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop e7; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/e6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook e8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h6→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen g4→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h7→g7).
  4. Best move: Qh6# — queen h5→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, dovetail mate, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qr2k/ppp1bp1p/2n1p2R/2P5/3PpBQ1/P3P1P1/1P3P2/R3K3 b Q - 0 18

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