Chess Puzzle #I6QTo — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2061 · Expert · attraction, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king h1; queen a1; rook e1; bishops e7/g2; pawns a3/c5/d6/f3/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks c8/e8; bishop f5; pawns a6/b7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc5 — rook c8→c5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen a1→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bf6+ — bishop e7→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/1p2Bp1p/p2P2p1/q1P2b2/8/P4PP1/6BP/Q3R2K b - - 0 23

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