Chess Puzzle #AW4hs — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1466 · Intermediate · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks e1/f1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks d8/f8; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd5 — rook d8→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  4. Best move: Rfxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rfxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pb3ppp/1p5q/5Q2/3P4/3B4/PP4PP/4RRK1 b - - 0 21

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