Chess Puzzle #0MMzd — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2295 · Expert · mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks e1/f2; bishop d4; pawns a2/c4/f4/g3/h2. Black: king f7; queen g4; rooks e7/h3; bishop f3; pawns a7/d5/e4/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd5 — pawn c4→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg3+ — rook h3→g3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies hxg3 (pawn h2→g3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxg3+ — queen g4→g3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  4. Best move: Qh3+ — queen g3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Rg2 (rook f2→g2).
  5. Best move: Qxg2# — queen h3→g2, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/p3rk2/6p1/3p4/2PBpPq1/1Q3bPr/P4R1P/4R1K1 w - - 1 31

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