Chess Puzzle #VKs29 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2346 · Expert · deflection, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rook d1; bishop g2; knight h3; pawns a4/b2/f2/g3. Black: king h7; queen e7; rook d8; bishop c5; knight g4; pawns a7/b6/f5/g5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook d1→d8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf2+ — bishop c5→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf2 (knight h3→f2, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qe1+ — queen e7→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Bf1 (bishop g2→f1).
  4. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen e1→f2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  5. Best move: Qxf1# — queen f2→f1, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/p3q2k/1pQ5/2b2pp1/P5n1/6PN/1P3PB1/3R2K1 w - - 3 34

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