Chess Puzzle #8cnL8 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2727 · Master · kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks d1/e1; bishops b3/d4; pawns a2/b2/e7/f3/g2. Black: king h7; queen h4; rook h5; bishop c7; knights f4/h6; pawns a6/b7/c6/g6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e8=Q — pawn e7→e8, promotes to queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h4→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
  3. Best move: Ng4+ — knight h6→g4, gives check. Opponent replies fxg4 (pawn f3→g4, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxg2+ — queen h1→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king f2→e3).
  5. Best move: Rh3# — rook h5→h3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/1pb1P2k/p1p3pn/7r/3B1n1q/1B3P2/PP1Q2P1/3RR1K1 w - - 3 40

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