Chess Puzzle #gMDof — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2254 · Expert · back rank mate, discovered attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks c5/f1; bishop b2; knight d4; pawns a2/b3/e3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b6; rook c8; bishop g7; knight d7; pawns a5/b4/e4/g6/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight d7→c5, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne6 — knight d4→e6. Opponent replies Nxe6 (knight c5→e6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxg7+ — bishop b2→g7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Nxg7 (knight e6→g7, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook c8→f8, captures queen).
  5. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, discovered attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r4k/3n1Qbp/1q4p1/p1R5/1p1Np3/1P2P3/PB4PP/5RK1 b - - 0 28

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