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

Rating 1837 · Advanced · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pillsburys mate.

Position

White: king c1; queen h3; rooks d1/h1; bishops f1/f6; pawns a2/c2/d4/e5/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen a4; rooks a8/f7; bishops c8/g7; pawns a7/b4/c6/d5/e6/f5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen a4→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh8 (bishop g7→h8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxh8# — rook h1→h8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pillsburys mate, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/p4rbp/2p1pB2/3pPp2/qp1P4/7Q/P1P2PP1/2KR1B1R b - - 1 20

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