Chess Puzzle #1wnY5 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1470 · Intermediate · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/h4; bishop c1; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c5/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knight d5; pawns a6/b7/c6/e6/f7/g6/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfd8 — rook f8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h4→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh4+ — queen g4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  4. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h4→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  5. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1pq1bpp1/p1p1p1p1/2Pn2N1/3P2QR/7P/PP3PP1/R1B3K1 b - - 4 18

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