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

Rating 1501 · Intermediate · endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king c1; queen g5; bishop f5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e3/f2/g3. Black: king e6; queen f8; rook a8; bishop h1; knight a6; pawns a5/b4/c5/d6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf7 — king e6→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg6+ — queen g5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f7→e7).
  3. Best move: Qe6+ — queen g6→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e7→d8).
  4. Best move: Qd7# — queen e6→d7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qd7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4q2/8/n2pk3/p1p2BQ1/1p1P4/2P1P1P1/PP3P2/2K4b b - - 1 32

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