Chess Puzzle #Lr9IZ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · double check, endgame, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, smothered mate.

Position

White: king g2; queen e6; knight g5; pawns e5/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rook f8; pawns b7/d5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king g8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf7+ — knight g5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Nh6+ — knight f7→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  4. Best move: Qg8+ — queen e6→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg8 (rook f8→g8, captures queen).
  5. Best move: Nf7# — knight h6→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

double check, endgame, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, smothered mate, very long. The combination ends with Nf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1p4pp/4Q3/3pP1N1/6Pq/8/6KP/8 b - - 4 44

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