Chess Puzzle #3Gz6a — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1469 · Intermediate · deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen f1; rooks a1/e1; bishop e3; knight b1; pawns b2/b5/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen e4; rooks f8/g8; bishop c5; pawns a6/d7/e5/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc5 — bishop e3→c5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook g8→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxg2 (queen f1→g2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen e4→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qf1 (queen g2→f1).
  4. Best move: Rg8+ — rook f8→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  5. Best move: Qxf1# — queen e1→f1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k2rr1/3p3p/p7/1Pb1p3/4q3/2P1B3/1P3PPP/RN2RQK1 w - - 0 25

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