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

Rating 1517 · Intermediate · endgame, fork, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king h2; queen g4; rook d8; pawns a3/b3/f4/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen c3; rook h8; bishop e3; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf7 — king f8→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd7+ — rook d8→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king f7→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen g4→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
  4. Best move: Qf7# — queen g7→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, fork, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3R1k1r/ppp3pp/4pp2/8/5PQ1/PPq1b2P/6PK/8 b - - 1 23

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