Chess Puzzle #f9TtS — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2255 · Expert · discovered check, double check, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king h1; queen f1; rook a1; bishops c1/f7; knights f3/h2; pawns a4/b2/c3/d3/e4/g2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/g8; bishops a7/c8; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/e5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxf7 — king e8→f7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng5+ — knight f3→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f7→g7).
  3. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f1→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
  4. Best move: Qh7# — queen f7→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered check, double check, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk1r1/bpp2B2/p1np3p/4p3/P3P3/2PP1N2/1P4PN/R1B2Q1K b q - 0 16

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