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

Rating 1583 · Intermediate · fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook d3; bishops a3/e6; knight f3; pawns a2/c2/e4/f2/g5/h3. Black: king f8; queen c6; rooks a8/h8; bishop h5; knights a5/e7; pawns a7/e5/f6/g7/h4. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf3 — bishop h5→f3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d3→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook a8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen d2→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen c6→e8).
  4. Best move: Bxe7# — bishop a3→e7, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Bxe7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4k1r/p3n1p1/2q1Bp2/n3p1Pb/4P2p/B2R1N1P/P1PQ1P2/6K1 b - - 1 24

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