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

Rating 1878 · Advanced · mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; rooks b2/b4; knight d2; pawns a5/c5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c8; rooks d8/e8; bishops g5/g6; pawns a6/c7/d3/f7/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bf4 — bishop g5→f4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: c6 — pawn c5→c6. Opponent replies Re1+ (rook e8→e1, gives check).
  3. Best move: Nf1 — knight d2→f1. Opponent replies Rxf1+ (rook e1→f1, captures knight, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxf1 — king g1→f1, captures rook. Opponent replies d2 (pawn d3→d2).
  5. Best move: Rb8# — rook b4→b8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Rb8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2krr3/2p2pp1/p5b1/P1P3bp/1R6/3p3P/1R1N1PP1/6K1 b - - 0 23

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