Chess Puzzle #FC8s1 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1529 · Intermediate · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen e1; rooks f1/h3; knight g5; pawns e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a7; rook c8; bishop e7; knight d7; pawns b4/c3/d5/e6/f7/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa6 — queen a7→a6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h3→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh4+ — queen e1→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  4. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h4→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  5. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/q2nbpp1/4p1p1/3pP1N1/1p3P2/2p4R/6PP/4QR1K b - - 1 30

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