Chess Puzzle #AIMBp — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1444 · Intermediate · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rook d1; bishops a7/c4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/f3/h2. Black: king c8; queen h4; rook h8; bishop f8; knights d8/f6; pawns b7/c7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc6 — knight d8→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxe6+ — bishop c4→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen e2→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nd7 (knight f6→d7).
  4. Best move: Qxd7# — queen e6→d7, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack. The combination ends with Qxd7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kn1b1r/Bpp2ppp/4pn2/8/2B4q/2N2P2/PPP1QP1P/2KR4 b - - 1 14

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