Chess Puzzle #EAN6X — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1565 · Intermediate · exposed king, fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rooks c1/e5; pawns a2/d4/g4/h3. Black: king f6; queen d6; rook b8; bishops f3/h4; pawns c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb2 — rook b8→b2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rf5+ — rook e5→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king f6→g6).
  3. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen a7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g6→h6).
  4. Best move: Rh5# — rook f5→h5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/Q4ppp/2pq1k2/4R3/3P2Pb/5b1P/P7/2R3K1 b - - 0 33

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