Chess Puzzle #Mcl3U — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1836 · Advanced · attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rooks a1/h4; bishop f6; pawns a2/b2/c4/d4/f2/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishop g6; knight a6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf5 — queen d7→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h4→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh6+ — queen g5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  4. Best move: Qxg7# — queen h6→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp1q1pp1/n1p2Bb1/3p2Q1/2PP3R/5P2/PP3P1P/R5K1 b - - 13 23

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