Chess Puzzle #7ivJD — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1544 · Intermediate · attraction, endgame, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g2; queen c2; rooks b1/c7; pawns a4/d3/d6/f3/f5/g4. Black: king b8; queen d4; rooks g8/h8; pawns a7/b6/e5/f6/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc6 — queen c2→c6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh2+ — rook h8→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king g2→h2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qf2+ — queen d4→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh3 (king h2→h3).
  4. Best move: Rh8+ — rook g8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Rh7 (rook c7→h7).
  5. Best move: Rxh7# — rook h8→h7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k4rr/p1R5/1p1P1pp1/4pP2/P2q2P1/3P1P2/2Q3K1/1R6 w - - 0 38

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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