Chess Puzzle #nmIA2 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2281 · Expert · attraction, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, triangle mate.

Position

White: king c2; queen e2; rooks b7/h1; bishop f1; pawns c3/d4/h5. Black: king a8; queen g5; rooks a4/c8; pawns e4/e6/f5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb5 — queen e2→b5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc3+ — rook c8→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc3 (king c2→c3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qc1+ — queen g5→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Kb3 (king c3→b3).
  4. Best move: Ra3+ — rook a4→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb4 (king b3→b4).
  5. Best move: Qc3# — queen c1→c3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, triangle mate, very long. The combination ends with Qc3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: k1r5/1R4pp/4p3/5pqP/r2Pp3/2P5/2K1Q3/5B1R w - - 1 27

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