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

Rating 2363 · Expert · mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g2; queen c7; rooks e1/f2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d4/g3. Black: king g6; queen h7; rook f8; knights c4/g4; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf8 — rook f2→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh2+ — queen h7→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf3 (king g2→f3).
  3. Best move: Nd2+ — knight c4→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf4 (king f3→f4).
  4. Best move: Qh6+ — queen h2→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg4 (king f4→g4, captures knight).
  5. Best move: Qh5+ — queen h6→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf4 (king g4→f4).
  6. Best move: Qg5# — queen h5→g5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qg5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/ppQ3pq/2p3k1/8/2nP2n1/2N3P1/PP3RK1/4R3 w - - 0 28

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