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

Rating 2457 · Master · endgame, mate, mate in 4, very long.

Position

White: king h4; queen b6; rook f7; knight b7; pawns a4/b2. Black: king b8; rooks e5/h2; bishop c6; pawns a5/c4/e6/g4/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxg4 — king h4→g4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rg5+ — rook e5→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf4 (king g4→f4).
  3. Best move: e5+ — pawn e6→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king f4→e3).
  4. Best move: Rg3+ — rook g5→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Rf3 (rook f7→f3).
  5. Best move: Rxf3# — rook g3→f3, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 4, very long. The combination ends with Rxf3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k6/1N3R2/1Qb1p2p/p3r3/P1p3pK/8/1P5r/8 w - - 0 39

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