Chess Puzzle #J1BBK — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1406 · Intermediate · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, pillsburys mate, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rook f1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b3/c4/g2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rook a8; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxc4 — pawn d5→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f3→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook a8→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, pillsburys mate, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pp4p1/1np4p/3pq3/2P5/1P1B1Q2/P5P1/5RK1 b - - 1 29

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