Chess Puzzle #GiO1n — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1461 · Intermediate · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king h1; rooks a7/e3; knights d5/f5; pawns b2/e4/h5. Black: king h7; queen f2; rook f8; knight g5; pawns b4/d6/e5/f6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf7 — rook f8→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight d5→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  3. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a7→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook a8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5r2/R6k/3p1p1p/3NpNnP/1p2P3/4R3/1P3q2/7K b - - 5 44

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