Chess Puzzle #lr6wS — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1871 · Advanced · attraction, deflection, epaulette mate, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g1; queen h7; rooks f1/h3; pawns c3/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen c4; rooks d8/e8; bishop g7; pawns b5/c6/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b4 — pawn b5→b4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f1→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king f8→f7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rf3+ — rook h3→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f7→e7).
  4. Best move: Qxg7# — queen h7→g7, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, epaulette mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3rrk2/5pbQ/2p1p1p1/1p2P3/2qP4/2P4R/6PP/5RK1 b - - 2 31

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