Chess Puzzle #XcqHd — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2223 · Expert · attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks e5/g3; knight g4; pawns a2/c2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; pawns a6/c5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rab8 — rook a8→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nf6+ — knight g4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Rh5# — rook e5→h5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/2qb1ppp/p3p3/2ppR3/6N1/2P3RQ/P1P2PPP/6K1 b - - 8 20

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