Chess Puzzle #hie1R — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2306 · Expert · discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks e1/f2; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c4/d3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a8/e8; knight f6; pawns a7/b4/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight f6→g4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen f7→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Nf7+ — knight e5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  5. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/p1p2ppp/5n2/4NQ2/1pPq4/3P4/PP3RPP/4R1K1 b - - 4 23

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