Chess Puzzle #9PWGI — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1436 · Intermediate · endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, queen rook endgame.

Position

White: king h2; rooks g3/g7; pawns d3/g2/h3. Black: king h6; queen b1; rooks b6/c3; pawns d4/e5/f6. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd3 — rook c3→d3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: R3g6+ — rook g3→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh5 (king h6→h5).
  3. Best move: g4+ — pawn g2→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh4 (king h5→h4).
  4. Best move: Rh6# — rook g6→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, queen rook endgame. The combination ends with Rh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/6R1/1r3p1k/4p3/3p4/2rP2RP/6PK/1q6 b - - 5 48

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