Chess Puzzle #9viX8 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1452 · Intermediate · attraction, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen f7; rooks a4/f1; pawns b2/c3/d5/g6/h4. Black: king h8; queen e5; rooks b7/g8; pawns c7/d6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen e5→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg8+ — queen f7→g8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg8 (king h8→g8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a4→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Rb8 (rook b7→b8).
  4. Best move: Rxb8# — rook a8→b8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxb8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/1rp2Qp1/3p2Pp/3Pq3/R6P/2P5/1P6/1K3R2 b - - 0 34

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