Chess Puzzle #b5hNY — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2472 · Master · advanced pawn, attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king f2; queen f4; rook f1; bishop g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e7/f6. Black: king a8; queen g6; rooks f7/h8; knight h6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb8 — rook h8→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen f4→b8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb8 (king a8→b8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bf4+ — bishop g5→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
  4. Best move: e8=Q# — pawn e7→e8, promotes to queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, promotion, queenside attack, sacrifice. The combination ends with e8=Q# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: k6r/pp2Pr1p/2p2Pqn/3p2B1/3P1Q2/8/PPP2K2/5R2 b - - 2 29

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