Chess Puzzle #IMlGu — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2594 · Master · mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king b1; queen g6; rooks d2/g1; bishop e3; pawns b2/c2/f2/g7/h3. Black: king g8; queen a6; rook c8; bishops c4/f6; pawn b4. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd7 — rook d2→d7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa2+ — queen a6→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b1→c1).
  3. Best move: Qa1+ — queen a2→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c1→d2).
  4. Best move: Bc3+ — bishop f6→c3, gives check. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures bishop).
  5. Best move: bxc3# — pawn b4→c3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with bxc3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/6P1/q4bQ1/8/1pb5/4B2P/1PPR1P2/1K4R1 w - - 1 30

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