Chess Puzzle #pCVc8 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2093 · Expert · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rook d7; bishop h3; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen c5; rooks f8/h8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne7 — knight c6→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen e4→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
  3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd8 (king e8→d8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qd7# — queen e6→d7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qd7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1r/pppR1kp1/2n4p/2q5/4Q3/7B/PP3PPP/6K1 b - - 7 24

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