Chess Puzzle #nZU5r — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1945 · Advanced · attack on f2/f7, attraction, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king f1; queen f6; rooks d1/h1; bishop b3; knight g1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/e4/f2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishop c5; knight f4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/e5/f7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne2 — knight g1→e2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen d7→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f1→e1).
  3. Best move: Bxf2+ — bishop c5→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf2 (king e1→f2, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qg2+ — queen h3→g2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f2→e1).
  5. Best move: Qxe2# — queen g2→e2, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attack on f2/f7, attraction, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxe2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp1q1p1p/2pp1Q2/2b1p3/4Pn2/1BPP4/PP3P1P/3R1KNR w - - 2 17

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