Chess Puzzle #XkEr1 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1904 · Advanced · mate, mate in 5, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen c7; rooks a1/f2; pawns a2/b2/d6/f4/g2/h3. Black: king a8; rooks g6/g8; knights f5/h4; pawns a7/b7/f7/h5. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (7 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d7 — pawn d6→d7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook g6→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Rxf2+ — rook g2→f2, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f1→e1).
  4. Best move: Rg1+ — rook g8→g1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf2 (king e1→f2, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Rg2+ — rook g1→g2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f2→e1).
  6. Best move: Nf3+ — knight h4→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e1→d1).
  7. Best move: Ne3+ — knight f5→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king d1→c1).
  8. Best move: Rg1# — rook g2→g1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 5, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Rg1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: k5r1/ppQ2p2/3P2r1/5n1p/5P1n/7P/PP3RP1/R5K1 w - - 5 27

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