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

Rating 2045 · Expert · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen e6; rooks d7/h1; bishop f3; knight e7; pawns a3/f2/g5/h6. Black: king h8; queen a5; rooks c7/f8; knight a6; pawns a7/b2/e5/f6/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa3 — queen a5→a3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen e6→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf6 (rook f8→f6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f6→f8).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook d8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/p1rRN2p/n3QppP/q3p1P1/8/P4B2/1p3P2/1K5R b - - 1 28

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