Chess Puzzle #Eeoia — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2231 · Expert · master, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king e2; queen a5; rooks c1/d1; bishops b2/c4; pawns a2/b3/e3/g4. Black: king g8; queen h3; rooks d8/f8; bishops h2/h5; pawns e4/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook d1→d8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg2+ — queen h3→g2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king e2→e1).
  3. Best move: Bg3+ — bishop h2→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e1→d1).
  4. Best move: Bxg4+ — bishop h5→g4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Be2 (bishop c4→e2).
  5. Best move: Qxe2# — queen g2→e2, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

master, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qxe2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/5pp1/7p/Q6b/2B1p1P1/1P2P2q/PB2K2b/2RR4 w - - 0 27

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