Chess Puzzle #vaxN6 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2263 · Expert · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/f7; bishop d3; knights e4/g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/e7; knight c6; pawns a5/b7/d5/e6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe4 — pawn d5→e4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg6 — queen h5→g6. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh7+ — queen g6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  4. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/1p2bRp1/2n1p2p/p2p2NQ/4N3/2PBP3/PP4PP/R5K1 b - - 0 15

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