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

Rating 1507 · Intermediate · fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks a8/f6; bishops c8/e7; pawns a6/b5/d5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh6 — rook f6→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen h5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop e7→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/4b1pp/p1q2r2/1p1p3Q/8/3B4/PPP3PP/R4RK1 b - - 1 19

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