Chess Puzzle #cUg5u — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2255 · Expert · mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king h2; queen c2; rooks a1/f6; bishop c3; pawns a2/b2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks d3/g3; pawns a7/c6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf2 — rook f6→f2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook g3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook d3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
  4. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h3→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
  5. Best move: Qh3# — queen h5→h3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p4p1p/2p2R2/7q/8/2Br2rP/PPQ3PK/R7 w - - 3 27

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