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

Rating 1486 · Intermediate · Anastasia’s mate, attraction, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king f3; rooks f1/h1; bishop e3; knight e7. Black: king h8; queen c4; rook f8; bishop e5; pawns a7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h1→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rh1+ — rook f1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Bh2 (bishop e5→h2).
  4. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook h1→h2, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qh4 (queen c4→h4).
  5. Best move: Rxh4# — rook h2→h4, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

Anastasia’s mate, attraction, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/p3Nppp/8/4b3/2q5/4BK2/8/5R1R b - - 1 32

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