Chess Puzzle #1ENAY — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2147 · Expert · endgame, mate, mate in 5, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen b6; rook b5; pawns a6/c2/c3/d4/e5/g2. Black: king a8; queen f8; rook h1; bishop b7; knight g8; pawns d5/e6/g4/g5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh1 — king g1→h1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f8→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king h1→h2).
  3. Best move: g3+ — pawn g4→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh3 (king h2→h3).
  4. Best move: Qf5+ — queen f1→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg3 (king h3→g3, captures pawn).
  5. Best move: Qf4+ — queen f5→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh3 (king g3→h3).
  6. Best move: Qh4# — queen f4→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 5, very long. The combination ends with Qh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: k4qn1/1b6/PQ2p3/1R1pP1p1/3P2p1/2P5/2P3P1/6Kr w - - 3 40

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