Chess Puzzle #Nvi6F — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2395 · Expert · mate, mate in 4, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king f3; queen e7; rook d1; bishop b2; knight f4; pawns a4/b4/c2/g3. Black: king h8; queen h6; rooks g8/h2; knight e4; pawns a6/c6/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc2 — rook h2→c2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen e7→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxg7 (queen h6→g7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Ng6+ — knight f4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Rh1+ — rook d1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Rh2 (rook c2→h2).
  5. Best move: Rxh2# — rook h1→h2, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/4Q1pp/p1p4q/5p2/PP2nN2/5KP1/1BP4r/3R4 b - - 3 29

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