Chess Puzzle #E2ZGS — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1447 · Intermediate · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks e1/f2; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/d4/g2/g3/h2. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd7 — knight f6→d7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f2→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qg6+ — queen d3→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
  4. Best move: Nxf7# — knight e5→f7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Nxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1r2/pp3pk1/4pn1p/4N1p1/3P4/3Q2P1/PP3RPP/4R1K1 b - - 2 21

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