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

Rating 1851 · Advanced · deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 5, very long.

Position

White: king h2; queen f7; rooks f2/f8; pawns a2/c7/g3/h3. Black: king h6; queen e5; rooks c3/e8; pawns a7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe8 — rook f8→e8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg3+ — queen e5→g3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king h2→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen g3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rh2 (rook f2→h2).
  4. Best move: Rc1+ — rook c3→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Re1 (rook e8→e1).
  5. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook c1→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qf1 (queen f7→f1).
  6. Best move: Rxf1# — rook e1→f1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 5, very long. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rR2/p1P2Q1p/6pk/4q3/8/2r3PP/P4R1K/8 w - - 7 44

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