Chess Puzzle #1LLyK — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1345 · Intermediate · deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king e1; queen d3; rook h1; bishop b1; knight f3; pawns a2/c3/d4/e5/f2/g4/h5. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight d7; pawns a5/b6/c6/e6/f5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg4 — pawn f5→g4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: Bg6+ — bishop b1→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f7→e7).
  4. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen h7→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f8→f7).
  5. Best move: Qxf7# — queen g7→f7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/3n2p1/1pp1p2p/p3Pp1P/3P2P1/2PQ1N2/P4P2/1B2K2R b K - 0 18

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