Chess Puzzle #YwnWO — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2221 · Expert · attraction, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen f4; rook d1; bishops e5/h7; knight g3; pawns c2/c3/d4/f2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d7/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king g8→h7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook d1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h1→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qh6+ — queen f4→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  5. Best move: Qxg7# — queen h6→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pppp1ppB/8/3nB3/3P1Q2/2P3N1/q1P2P2/2KR4 b - - 0 19

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