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

Rating 2079 · Expert · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king f2; queen b6; rooks a1/a4; pawns b4/c3/f5/g4/h3. Black: king a8; queen e5; rooks c7/d7; pawns a6/b7/c6/d5/f7/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen e5→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxa6+ — rook a4→a6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies bxa6 (pawn b7→a6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxa6+ — queen b6→a6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ra7 (rook c7→a7).
  4. Best move: Qc8# — queen a6→c8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, queenside attack, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: k7/1prr1p1p/pQp5/3pqPp1/RP4P1/2P4P/5K2/R7 b - - 0 36

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