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

Rating 1586 · Intermediate · exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king c1; queen g5; rooks d1/h6; bishop g6; pawns a3/b2/c2/g2. Black: king f7; queen e5; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/e6; pawns a7/b5/c6/e3/f5/g4. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king f7→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook a8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen g5→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
  4. Best move: Qxh8# — queen d8→h8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6r/p4k2/2p1b1BR/1pb1qpQ1/6p1/P3p3/1PP3P1/2KR4 b - - 3 30

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