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

Rating 1443 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen c8; rooks e2/f1; pawns a2/b2/d7/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen f6; rooks d6/f7; pawns a6/e4/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook e2→e4, 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: Rd1+ — rook d6→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Re1 (rook e4→e1).
  4. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook d1→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f2→f1).
  5. Best move: Rexf1# — rook e1→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rexf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2Q5/3P1rpk/p2r1q1p/8/4p3/8/PP2RPPP/5RK1 w - - 3 29

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