Chess Puzzle #GZ8e4 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2356 · Expert · endgame, fork, mate, mate in 5, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen b5; rook f7; bishop b2; pawns a4/d4/e6/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rook c8; bishop b6; pawns a7/d5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd7 — queen b5→d7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rc1+ — rook c8→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc1 (bishop b2→c1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qe1+ — queen h4→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f7→f1).
  4. Best move: Bxd4+ — bishop b6→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Be3 (bishop c1→e3).
  5. Best move: Bxe3+ — bishop d4→e3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  6. Best move: Qxf1# — queen e1→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, fork, mate, mate in 5, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/p4Rpp/1b2P3/1Q1p4/P2P3q/8/1B4PP/6K1 w - - 3 35

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