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

Rating 1589 · Intermediate · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen c1; rooks g1/h4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f5. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks d8/f8; knight e5; pawns a7/b5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf5 — queen g6→f5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook g1→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen c1→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
  4. Best move: Qh8# — queen h6→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/p4pp1/6qp/1p2nP2/7R/8/PPP5/1KQ3R1 b - - 0 28

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