Chess Puzzle #Dbx4k — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1403 · Intermediate · endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks c7/f1; pawns a2/b2/d3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks c8/f8; pawns a7/b7/d4/d6/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb7 — rook c7→b7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f6→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f1→f2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rc1+ — rook c8→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen h5→d1).
  4. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook c1→d1, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f2→f1).
  5. Best move: Rdxf1# — rook d1→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rdxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/ppR3pp/3ppq2/7Q/3pP3/3P4/PP3PPP/5RK1 w - - 1 16

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