Chess Puzzle #JTw4k — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1598 · Intermediate · attraction, endgame, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king c1; queen e6; rooks d7/g1; bishop f4; pawns a2/b2/c3/h4. Black: king h6; queen f8; rooks a8/f5; pawns a7/b6/c5/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf4 — rook f5→f4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook d7→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h6→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen e6→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  4. Best move: Qh5+ — queen g6→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Qh6 (queen f8→h6).
  5. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h5→h6, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4q2/p2R3p/1p2Q1pk/2p2r2/5B1P/2P5/PP6/2K3R1 b - - 0 25

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