Chess Puzzle #o4Wf6 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2311 · Expert · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks a1/c7; knights e5/e7; pawns a3/b4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen a4; rooks a8/f8; bishops e6/g7; pawns a7/b7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rad8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: N5xg6+ — knight e5→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
  4. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h4→h6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/ppR1Npbp/4b1p1/4N3/qP1Q4/P6P/5PP1/R5K1 b - - 6 20

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