Chess Puzzle #KmXDj — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2323 · Expert · deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rook e1; bishop d3; knight g5; pawns a2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen h5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  4. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  5. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/ppp2ppp/1q3b2/3p2NQ/8/3B4/P1P3PP/4R2K b - - 3 17

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