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

Rating 1706 · Advanced · clearance, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; rook b8; bishops g2/h4; knights f3/g5; pawns a2/d4/e5/g4. Black: king g7; rook h8; bishops c6/d8; knights f4/h6; pawns a3/c4/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc7 — bishop d8→c7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight g5→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bf6+ — bishop h4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g7→h7).
  4. Best move: Rxh8# — rook b8→h8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1R1b3r/5pk1/2b1p1pn/4P1N1/2pP1nPB/p4N2/P5B1/6K1 b - - 0 36

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