Chess Puzzle #ChwFl — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1862 · Advanced · mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king e2; queen d7; rooks b1/h1; bishops f1/f4; knights c8/g1; pawns c2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen a2; rooks a8/h8; bishop a5; knights c6/g8; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb1 — queen a2→b1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bd6+ — bishop f4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Nce7 (knight c6→e7).
  3. Best move: Bxe7+ — bishop d6→e7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe7 (knight g8→e7, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen d7→e7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
  5. Best move: Qe8# — queen e7→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1N2knr/pp1Q1ppp/2n1p3/b7/5B2/4P3/q1P1KPPP/1R3BNR b - - 0 11

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