Chess Puzzle #H55Cl — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2384 · Expert · exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks f7/g6; bishop f2; pawns a3/b2/c5/e5/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen a2; rooks d8/e8; knight e6; pawns a5/b7/c6/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxf7 — king f8→f7, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf5+ — queen c2→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f7→e7).
  3. Best move: Rg7+ — rook g6→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Nxg7 (knight e6→g7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Bh4# — bishop f2→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Bh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3rrk2/1p3R2/2p1n1Rp/p1P1P3/8/P7/qPQ2BPP/6K1 b - - 0 30

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