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

Rating 1947 · Advanced · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rook a3; bishop c1; knight e5; pawns a4/b2/d2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks b8/f8; bishop e7; pawns a6/b7/c5/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king g8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight e5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rh3+ — rook a3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Bh4 (bishop e7→h4).
  4. Best move: Rxh4# — rook h3→h4, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/1pq1b1pp/p7/2pQNp2/P4P2/R7/1P1P2PP/2B3K1 b - - 0 21

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