Chess Puzzle #9JQAB — Advanced, White to move, opening

Rating 1802 · Advanced · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks c1/f1; bishop g2; knights c2/e5; pawns a4/b3/c4/d4/e2/f2/f4/h2. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knights c6/e4; pawns a5/b6/c7/d5/e6/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook f8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight e5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh3+ — queen d3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Qh4 (queen e7→h4).
  4. Best move: Qxh4# — queen h3→h4, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/1bp1q1pp/1pn1p3/p2pNp2/P1PPnP2/1P1Q4/2N1PPBP/2R2RK1 b - - 7 15

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