Chess Puzzle #8DI3K — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1759 · Advanced · attraction, mate, mate in 4, opening, very long.

Position

White: king f1; queen g4; rook a1; bishops c1/f7; knights b1/g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/e6/f2/g3. Black: king d8; queen h1; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight c6→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bg5+ — bishop c1→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Be7 (bishop f8→e7).
  3. Best move: Bxe7+ — bishop g5→e7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe7 (king d8→e7, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qg5+ — queen g4→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e7→f8).
  5. Best move: Qd8# — queen g5→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 4, opening, very long. The combination ends with Qd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bk1b1r/ppp2Bpp/2npP3/8/6Q1/6P1/PPP2P2/RNB2KNq b - - 2 10

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.