Chess Puzzle #QElEz — Advanced, White to move, opening

Rating 1864 · Advanced · clearance, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen g6; rooks a1/h1; bishop f4; knights b1/e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights c6/f6; pawns a6/b7/c4/d5/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb2 — queen b6→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen g6→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e7→d8).
  3. Best move: Nxc6+ — knight e5→c6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b7→c6, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Bc7# — bishop f4→c7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Bc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2b1r/1p2k1p1/pqn1pnQ1/3pN3/2pP1B2/2P1P3/PP3PPP/RN2K2R b KQ - 2 11

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