Chess Puzzle #0fNVs — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1599 · Intermediate · attraction, deflection, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king b1; queen h6; rooks d6/h1; bishop b5; pawns a3/b2/e4/f3/g5. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks c3/f8; knight h5; pawns b3/b7/e5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxh5 — rook h1→h5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rc1+ — rook c3→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc1 (king b1→c1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qe1+ — queen a5→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rd1 (rook d6→d1).
  4. Best move: Rc8+ — rook f8→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Bc4+ (bishop b5→c4, gives check).
  5. Best move: Rxc4+ — rook c8→c4, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  6. Best move: Qxd1# — queen e1→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1p5p/3R2pQ/qB2p1Pn/4P3/Ppr2P2/1P6/1K5R w - - 0 25

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