Chess Puzzle #VEJ8q — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1894 · Advanced · advanced pawn, discovered attack, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king b1; queen c2; rooks g1/h1; pawns b2/b3/d4/f3/h6. Black: king h8; queen d3; rooks a8/g8; pawns a7/b6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d3→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen c2→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: hxg7+ — pawn h6→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qh4 (queen d4→h4).
  4. Best move: Rxh4# — rook h1→h4, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, discovered attack, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5rk/p5pp/1p5P/8/3P4/1P1q1P2/1PQ5/1K4RR b - - 4 28

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