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

Rating 1997 · Advanced · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rooks c1/f1; bishop g2; pawns a2/b2/d5/e2/f2/g3. Black: king c8; queen f6; rooks d8/g8; bishop d7; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h4 — pawn h5→h4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc7+ — rook c1→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc7 (king c8→c7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: d6+ — pawn d5→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd6 (queen f6→d6, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Qxb7# — queen b4→b7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxb7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr2r1/pppb1p2/5q2/3Pn2p/1Q6/6P1/PP2PPB1/2R2RK1 b - - 7 19

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