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

Rating 1827 · Advanced · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks a1/f3; bishops c1/d3; pawns a2/b2/c4/f4/g2. Black: king e8; queen c5; rooks a8/h8; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/d4/e6/f7/g3/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen e3→e2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h8→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh1 (king g1→h1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen c5→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  4. Best move: Qh2+ — queen h5→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  5. Best move: Qh1# — queen h2→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pb3pp1/1p2p3/2q5/2Pp1P2/3BQRp1/PP4P1/R1B3K1 w kq - 0 22

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