Chess Puzzle #2Bvo0 — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1502 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks e1/f3; bishop b2; knight h6; pawns a4/b3/c2/d3/e3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishops a6/e7; knight d7; pawns a5/b4/c4/d5/e6/f6/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe8 — queen d8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf7+ — knight h6→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rh3+ — rook f3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  4. Best move: Qh7+ — queen g6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  5. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2rq1r1k/3nb1p1/b3ppQN/p2p4/Ppp2P2/1P1PPR2/1BP3PP/4R1K1 b - - 2 23

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