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

Rating 1814 · Advanced · attack on f2/f7, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king b1; queen g5; rook d1; bishop f5; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2. Black: king e7; queen e3; rooks a8/f8; bishops g7/h1; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/e5/f4. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bh8 — bishop g7→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd7+ — rook d1→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king e7→e8).
  3. Best move: Qg6+ — queen g5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f8→f7).
  4. Best move: Qxf7# — queen g6→f7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attack on f2/f7, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/p3k1b1/1p3n2/4pBQ1/5p2/2N1q3/PPP5/1K1R3b b - - 1 25

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