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

Rating 1448 · Intermediate · deflection, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, opening.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop h5; knight f7; pawns a2/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/e3; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd4 — bishop e3→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh6+ — knight f7→h6, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qg4+ — queen d1→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, opening, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp3Npp/2n1p3/3pP2B/3P4/4b3/Pq4PP/R2Q1R1K b - - 3 15

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