Chess Puzzle #dT4Xq — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2250 · Expert · clearance, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks c1/e1; bishop d3; pawns a3/b4/c3/f6/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen g3; rook c8; bishops b7/g7; knight a4; pawns a6/b5/d5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bh6 — bishop g7→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen e6→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc8 (bishop b7→c8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop h6→f8).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r4k/1b4bp/p3QPp1/1p1p4/nP6/P1PB2qP/6P1/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 30

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