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

Rating 2251 · Expert · attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen f6; rooks a1/g3; knight f7; pawns c3/d4/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h6; queen d7; rooks a8/c8; bishop b8; knight d8; pawns a3/d5/e6/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf7 — queen d7→f7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen f6→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Qh7 (queen f7→h7).
  3. Best move: Rxg6+ — rook g3→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg6 (king h6→g6, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qf6# — queen h8→f6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, swallowstail mate. The combination ends with Qf6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rbrn4/3q1N2/4pQpk/3pP2p/3P4/p1P3RP/5PP1/R5K1 b - - 0 35

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