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

Rating 2331 · Expert · exposed king, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks d1/f1; bishop c4; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b6; rooks a8/f4; bishops c8/g7; pawns a7/b7/c5/e5/e7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg5 — pawn h6→g5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen b6→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen g6→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
  4. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h5→h6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b4k/pp2p1b1/1q4Qp/2p1p1N1/2B2r2/2P5/PP3PPP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 22

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