Chess Puzzle #Cxd2T — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1404 · Intermediate · endgame, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king f2; queen f7; rook e7; bishop g2; pawns c2/c4/d5/e3/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen e5; rook d8; bishop g7; pawns b4/c5/d6/e4/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen e5→c3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen f7→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
  4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/4RQbp/3p2p1/2pPqp2/1pP1p3/4P1P1/2P2KBP/8 b - - 8 41

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