Chess Puzzle #DDalA — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1788 · Advanced · intermezzo, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen h7; rook e1; bishops g5/g6; pawns a2/c2/g2/g4. Black: king d7; queen e5; rook f8; bishops b7/d6; pawns a7/b6/c7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rf1+ — rook f8→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king h1→h2).
  3. Best move: Bxe5+ — bishop d6→e5, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf4 (bishop g5→f4).
  4. Best move: Bxf4+ — bishop e5→f4, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies g3 (pawn g2→g3).
  5. Best move: Rh1# — rook f1→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

intermezzo, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Rh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/pbpk2pQ/1p1b2Bp/4q1B1/6P1/8/P1P3P1/4R2K w - - 10 35

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