Chess Puzzle #GGVc1 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1958 · Advanced · attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen h5; rooks a1/h1; bishop f4; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f2/g2/g5. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/e7; knights c6/d7; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf4 — rook f8→f4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h5→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: g6+ — pawn g5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg6 (king f7→g6, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Qh5# — queen h8→h5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/ppqnb1p1/2n1p3/3pP1PQ/5B2/1N6/PPP2PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 2 15

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