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

Rating 1546 · Intermediate · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king a2; queen h4; rooks g1/g6; pawns a3/b2/c3/h3. Black: king h8; queen e5; rooks e7/f7; pawns a7/b5/c6/d5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c5 — pawn c6→c5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook g6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h4→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rh7 (rook f7→h7).
  4. Best move: Qf8# — queen h6→f8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/p3rrp1/2p3Rp/1p1pq3/7Q/P1P4P/KP6/6R1 b - - 3 33

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