Chess Puzzle #L4pH3 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2260 · Expert · mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king e2; queen g1; rooks a1/e1; bishop f5; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/e4/f2. Black: king h8; queen h6; rooks a8/f8; bishop f4; pawns a7/b7/d4/d5/e5/f7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg2 — queen g1→g2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa6+ — queen h6→a6, gives check. Opponent replies c4 (pawn c3→c4).
  3. Best move: Qxc4+ — queen a6→c4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e2→d1).
  4. Best move: Qd3+ — queen c4→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Nd2 (knight f3→d2).
  5. Best move: Qxd2# — queen d3→d2, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qxd2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/pp3p2/7q/3ppB2/3pPb2/2P2N2/PP2KP2/R3R1Q1 w - - 0 32

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