Chess Puzzle #BcZv8 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1572 · Intermediate · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen d3; rook d1; bishop e4; knight a8; pawns a2/g3/h2. Black: king c8; queen e5; rook h8; bishop f8; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/g6/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ba3 — bishop f8→a3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd7+ — queen d3→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
  3. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook h8→d8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: N1k2b1r/pp4p1/2p1p1p1/4q3/4B3/3Q2P1/P6P/1K1R4 b - - 10 31

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