Chess Puzzle #jZAX8 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1802 · Advanced · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen h6; rooks f1/f2; bishop c4; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g5/h3. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f6; knights e5/e8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf2 — rook f6→f2, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen h6→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook f2→f8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  4. Best move: Rg8# — rook f8→g8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice, X-ray attack. The combination ends with Rg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qn2k/ppp4p/3p1rpQ/4n1P1/2B1P3/7P/PPP2R2/1K3R2 b - - 0 25

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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