Chess Puzzle #CObS7 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1908 · Advanced · double check, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook f1; bishops a5/h7; knight g6; pawns a4/b2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen e8; rooks c7/f7; bishops b7/e7; knight d6; pawns a6/b4/d5/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king h8→h7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf8+ — knight g6→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh7+ — queen c2→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

double check, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4q2k/1br1brpB/p2np1N1/B2p4/Pp1P4/4P2P/1PQ2PP1/5RK1 b - - 2 24

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