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

Rating 1474 · Intermediate · double check, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/d1; knight f7; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks b8/f8; bishop f4; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh4 — queen d8→h4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh6+ — knight f7→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qg8+ — queen b3→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg8 (rook f8→g8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Nf7# — knight h6→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

double check, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r1q1rk1/pp3Npp/2n5/8/5b2/1Q6/PP3PPP/R2R2K1 b - - 0 18

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