Chess Puzzle #ZQDB3 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1820 · Advanced · deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king d7; queen f6; rooks d5/f8; knight f2; pawns b7/c6/d4/e6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd2 — knight b1→d2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nh3+ — knight f2→h3, gives check. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rg5+ — rook d5→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  4. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen f6→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf1 (knight d2→f1, captures queen).
  5. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/1p1k2pp/2p1pq2/3r4/Q2p4/8/PPP2nPP/RNB2RK1 w - - 0 19

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