Chess Puzzle #D3J8z — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1489 · Intermediate · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h2; rooks e1/g3; bishops b5/c3; pawns a2/b2/f4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen c5; rook g8; knight c6; pawns a5/b6/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb5 — queen c5→b5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxg7+ — bishop c3→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg7 (rook g8→g7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook g7→g8).
  4. Best move: Rgxg8# — rook g3→g8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rgxg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/6pp/1pn5/pBq2p2/5P2/2B3RP/PP4PK/4R3 b - - 2 27

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