Chess Puzzle #pQ9Du — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2296 · Expert · attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king h2; queen d4; rooks c1/g3; bishops f6/g6; pawns a3/b2/f4/g5/h3. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks c8/f8; bishop a4; knight f7; pawns a5/b7/d5/e6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc1 — rook c8→c1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxh7+ — bishop g6→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qd3+ — queen d4→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  4. Best move: Qg6# — queen d3→g6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qg6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/1p3n1p/3qpBB1/p2p2P1/b2Q1P2/P5RP/1P5K/2R5 b - - 0 34

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