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

Rating 1441 · Intermediate · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g2; queen a8; bishop e4; pawns a2/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c3; rook f7; knight d4; pawns a7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook f7→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bd5+ — bishop e4→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Ne6 (knight d4→e6).
  3. Best move: Bxe6+ — bishop d5→e6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen a8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: Q5k1/p4rpp/8/8/3nB3/2q3P1/P3PPKP/8 b - - 0 23

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