Chess Puzzle #Dz7Us — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1667 · Advanced · deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king d2; queen d3; rooks h1/h2; knight g3; pawn c2. Black: king g8; queen b2; rook c8; bishops g4/g7; pawns a5/b7/d6/e7/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc3 — rook c8→c3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h2→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh8 (bishop g7→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  4. Best move: Qxh8# — queen h7→h8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1p2ppb1/3p4/p7/6b1/3Q2N1/1qPK3R/7R b - - 13 37

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