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

Rating 1602 · Advanced · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen e5; rooks d1/g1; bishop h7; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/f2/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c7/f8; bishop c8; pawns a6/b5/d7/e6/f6/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king g8→h7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen e5→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook g1→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rg1# — rook d1→g1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rg1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2bq1rk1/2rp2pB/p3pp2/1p2Q3/8/2N2P2/PP3P1P/2KR2R1 b - - 0 21

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