Chess Puzzle #YRnly — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2447 · Master · endgame, mate, mate in 4, queenside attack, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king c1; queen b8; rooks h1/h2; pawns a4/b3/c2/d4/e3/g4. Black: king g8; queen e7; rook f8; knight d2; pawns c3/d5/e6/g6/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb6 — queen b8→b6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rf1+ — rook f8→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook h1→f1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qa3+ — queen e7→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king c1→d1).
  4. Best move: Qa1+ — queen a3→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king d1→e2).
  5. Best move: Qxf1# — queen a1→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 4, queenside attack, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1Q3rk1/4q2p/4p1p1/3p4/P2P2P1/1Pp1P3/2Pn3R/2K4R w - - 11 36

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