Chess Puzzle #Hr9bV — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2314 · Expert · endgame, exposed king, fork, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king b1; queen d2; rook g6; knights c3/e6; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e4. Black: king f7; queen d7; rook h8; bishop h3; pawns a7/b5/c6/d6/e7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxg6 — king f7→g6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg5+ — queen d2→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g6→f7).
  3. Best move: Qg7+ — queen g5→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe6 (king f7→e6, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qg6# — queen g7→g6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, exposed king, fork, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qg6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7r/p2qpk2/2ppN1R1/1p6/3PP3/2N4b/PPPQ4/1K6 b - - 0 25

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