Chess Puzzle #8P4dA — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1406 · Intermediate · attraction, deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king e2; queen e6; rooks a1/h1; pawns a2/b2/c3/g7. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f7; knight e4; pawns a7/b3/d5/g5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxg7 — king g8→g7, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h1→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g7→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen e6→f7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king h7→h6).
  4. Best move: Rh1# — rook a1→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q2k1/p4rPp/4Q1p1/3p2p1/4n3/1pP5/PP2K3/R6R b - - 0 30

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