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

Rating 1592 · Intermediate · attraction, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, opera mate.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rook e1; bishop h6; pawns a4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks b8/f7; pawns a7/c6/d5/f6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook b8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg8+ — queen g4→g8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg8 (king h8→g8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, opera mate, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r5k/p1q2r1p/2p2p1B/3p4/P5Q1/6P1/5P1P/4R1K1 b - - 5 28

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