Chess Puzzle #DU2ET — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2329 · Expert · attraction, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rook a1; bishop d5; pawns b4/c3/d3/e4/g2/h3/h5. Black: king a6; queen d7; rooks f8/g8; knight c6; pawns b5/c7/d6/e5/f4/f7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kb6 — king a6→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf2+ — queen h4→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kb7 (king b6→b7).
  3. Best move: Qa7+ — queen f2→a7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b7→c8).
  4. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a7→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Nb8 (knight c6→b8).
  5. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen a8→b8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb8 (king c8→b8, captures queen).
  6. Best move: Ra8# — rook a1→a8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Ra8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rr1/2pq1p2/k1np4/1p1Bp2P/1P2Pp1Q/2PP3P/6P1/R5K1 b - - 1 28

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