Chess Puzzle #SaZYL — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2511 · Master · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king f1; queen h6; rooks a1/e1; bishop a2; knight f3; pawns a3/b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks d6/f8; bishop f6; knight f2; pawns a6/b5/f5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight f2→g4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop a2→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g8→f7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Ng5+ — knight f3→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Bxg5 (bishop f6→g5, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king f7→f6).
  5. Best move: Qe7# — queen h7→e7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qe7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5p1p/pq1r1bpQ/1p3p2/8/P4N2/BP3nPP/R3RK2 b - - 1 23

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