Chess Puzzle #bbRL7 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2608 · Master · endgame, mate, mate in 4, opera mate, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king h3; queen d3; knight e4; pawns a4/b3/c4/d5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks a2/f5; bishop f4; pawns a6/b7/c5/e5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g3 — pawn g2→g3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh5+ — rook f5→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg4 (king h3→g4).
  3. Best move: Rh4+ — rook h5→h4, gives check. Opponent replies gxh4 (pawn g3→h4, captures rook).
  4. Best move: h5+ — pawn h7→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh3 (king g4→h3).
  5. Best move: Rxh2# — rook a2→h2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 4, opera mate, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1p5p/p5p1/2pPpr2/P1P1Nb2/1P1Q1P1K/r5PP/8 w - - 7 36

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