Chess Puzzle #EC61B — Advanced, Black to move, opening

Rating 1714 · Advanced · attraction, intermezzo, mate, mate in 4, opening, sacrifice.

Position

White: king d2; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops g4/h4; knights f3/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg5+ — queen d8→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king d2→e2).
  3. Best move: Bxf3+ — bishop g4→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf3 (king e2→f3, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qg3+ — queen g5→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f3→e2).
  5. Best move: Qf2# — queen g3→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, intermezzo, mate, mate in 4, opening, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qk1nr/ppp2ppp/3p4/8/4P1bb/2NP1n1P/PPPK2P1/R1BQ1B1R w kq - 0 9

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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