Chess Puzzle #Nl8oj — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2229 · Expert · deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 4, very long.

Position

White: king h2; rook g3; knight g5; pawns b2/d4/d6/f2/g2/h3. Black: king f8; rooks a1/a8; knights b4/d7; pawns b6/c4/d5/e6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: R8a2 — rook a8→a2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxh7+ — knight g5→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
  3. Best move: Rg8+ — rook g3→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Nf8 (knight d7→f8).
  4. Best move: Nf6+ — knight h7→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
  5. Best move: Rxf8# — rook g8→f8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 4, very long. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4k2/3n1p1p/1p1Pp3/3p2N1/1npP4/6RP/1P3PPK/r7 b - - 1 33

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