Chess Puzzle #7UQLd — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2357 · Expert · advanced pawn, exposed king, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king c2; queen a8; rooks a1/a7; bishop e2; knight d2; pawns b3/c4/d5/e4/f2/f3/h3. Black: king c7; queen f6; rook b7; bishop h6; knight f4; pawns c5/d3/d6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc1 — king c2→c1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc3+ — queen f6→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king c1→d1).
  3. Best move: dxe2+ — pawn d3→e2, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king d1→e1).
  4. Best move: Nd3+ — knight f4→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe2 (king e1→e2, captures pawn).
  5. Best move: Qxd2+ — queen c3→d2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king e2→f1).
  6. Best move: Qxf2# — queen d2→f2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, exposed king, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, queenside attack, very long. The combination ends with Qxf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: Q7/Rrk2p1p/3p1qpb/2pP4/2P1Pn2/1P1p1P1P/2KNBP2/R7 w - - 0 32

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