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

Rating 1445 · Intermediate · deflection, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king h1; queen e8; knight e7; pawns g3/h3. Black: king h7; queen f2; bishop a5; pawns a6/b5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h6→h5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg8+ — queen e8→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king h7→h6).
  3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen g8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king h6→g5).
  4. Best move: Qxg7# — queen h8→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4Q3/4Nppk/p6p/bp6/8/6PP/5q2/7K b - - 1 37

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