Chess Puzzle #H9x1j — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1921 · Advanced · deflection, discovered attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen b7; rooks b1/f1; bishop h6; pawns a2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d3; rooks e8/f8; bishop d4; pawns a7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb8 — rook e8→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen b7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxb8+ — rook b1→b8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  4. Best move: Rfxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, discovered attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rfxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/pQ3p1p/6pB/8/3b4/3q4/P5PP/1R3R1K b - - 5 22

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