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

Rating 1654 · Advanced · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rooks d4/f1; bishop e5; pawns c3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks d8/f8; bishop b3; pawns a7/b7/f5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rde8 — rook d8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h4→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh4+ — rook d4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  4. Best move: Rh8# — rook h4→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pp3p1p/1q4p1/4Bp2/3R3Q/1bP5/6PP/5R1K b - - 8 23

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