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

Rating 1881 · Advanced · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rooks d1/d7; bishop b1; pawns a3/b2/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e3; rook d8; bishop c6; pawns b5/c4/e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd7 — rook d8→d7, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen h4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook d7→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Be8 (bishop c6→e8).
  4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook d8→e8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice, X-ray attack. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/3R1pp1/2b1p2p/1p2P3/2p4Q/P3q2P/1P4P1/1B1R3K b - - 1 33

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