Chess Puzzle #M5yRD — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1410 · Intermediate · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks a1/g3; bishops d3/e5; pawns a2/c3/d4/e3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen f7; rooks a8/f8; bishops d7/e7; pawns a4/b5/c6/d5/f5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g6 — pawn g7→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h3→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh6 (king h7→h6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh3+ — rook g3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Bh4 (bishop e7→h4).
  4. Best move: Rxh4# — rook h3→h4, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/3bbqpk/2p4p/1p1pBp2/p2P1P2/2PBP1RQ/P5PP/R5K1 b - - 3 23

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