Chess Puzzle #OPZBj — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1850 · Advanced · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rook h3; bishops f5/g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/g6/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks e6/f8; bishop d6; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf5 — rook f8→f5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h3→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  4. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  5. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pp2q1p1/2pbr1P1/3p1BB1/3Pn3/2P4R/PP4PP/3Q2K1 b - - 14 28

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