Chess Puzzle #Ap4v6 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king h2; queen d3; rook d1; bishop d5; knight c2; pawns a3/e3/g2. Black: king g8; queen f2; bishop h3; knight e2; pawns a6/b7/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bf3 — bishop d5→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen f2→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king h2→h1).
  3. Best move: Bxg2+ — bishop h3→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxg2 (bishop f3→g2, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qh4+ — queen g3→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Bh3 (bishop g2→h3).
  5. Best move: Qxh3# — queen h4→h3, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1p3pp1/p6p/3B4/8/P2QP2b/2N1nqPK/3R4 w - - 0 31

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