Chess Puzzle #3G9zN — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1315 · Intermediate · endgame, master, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen b7; rooks d1/f1; pawns a2/b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks c5/f8; pawns a6/c4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc6 — queen d6→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen b7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen c6→e8).
  4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook d8→e8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  5. Best move: Rfxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, master, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rfxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1Q3ppp/p2q4/2r5/2p5/8/PP4PP/3R1R1K b - - 0 28

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