Chess Puzzle #p5KqM — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1826 · Advanced · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen h2; rook h1; bishops d6/g4; pawns a2/c2/d4/f3. Black: king g8; queen c6; rook e8; bishops f6/f7; pawns a6/b2/b4/d5/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bg6 — bishop f7→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Be6+ — bishop g4→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe6 (rook e8→e6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h2→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  4. Best move: Qf8# — queen h8→f8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/5bp1/p1qB1b2/3p4/1p1P2B1/5P2/PpP4Q/1K5R b - - 7 31

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