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

Rating 2035 · Expert · attraction, double check, exposed king, intermezzo, kingside attack, long.

Position

White: king h2; queen h5; rooks a1/g1; bishop h6; knight f3; pawns a2/c2/d3/e4/g6/h3. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks a7/g8; bishops b2/c6; pawns a6/b4/c5/d6/f7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg6 — pawn f7→g6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bg7+ — bishop h6→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king h8→g7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen h5→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
  4. Best move: Qxg8# — queen g6→g8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, double check, exposed king, intermezzo, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/r3qp2/p1bp2PB/2p4Q/1p2P3/3P1N1P/PbP4K/R5R1 b - - 0 24

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