Chess Puzzle #Kos12 — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1404 · Intermediate · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, opening.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f2; bishops c1/c4; knights b1/g6; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g7; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/e7/f7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf2 — queen b6→f2, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight g6→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
  4. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h5→h6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, opening. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp1nppb1/1qpp2N1/8/2B1P3/3P4/PPP2RPP/RNBQ3K b - - 0 12

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