Chess Puzzle #O9FyL — Expert, White to move, opening

Rating 2004 · Expert · attack on f2/f7, discovered attack, fork, mate, mate in 4, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f5; knights c5/e5; pawns a3/c2/d2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d4; rooks a8/h8; bishop g7; knights b8/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/e7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa1 — queen d4→a1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bd7+ — bishop f5→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd7 (knight b8→d7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
  4. Best move: Ne6+ — knight c5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d8→c8).
  5. Best move: Qe8# — queen f7→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attack on f2/f7, discovered attack, fork, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn2k1nr/ppp1ppbp/6p1/2N1NB2/3q4/P4Q2/2PP1PPP/R1B1K2R b KQkq - 0 12

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