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

Rating 1502 · Intermediate · deflection, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks a1/f1; bishops d3/h6; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks e5/e8; bishops c8/f8; knight h5; pawns a6/d5/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh6 — queen b6→h6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f7→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook e8→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2b1rbk1/5pp1/pq5B/3pr2n/3N4/2PB1Q1P/PP4P1/R4R1K b - - 2 26

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