Chess Puzzle #snRxi — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2436 · Master · exposed king, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen h6; rooks e1/f6; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen d4; rooks a8/g7; knight e4; pawns a7/b6/c6/f5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf6 — knight e4→f6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight e5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h6→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  4. Best move: Re7+ — rook e1→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg6 (king f7→g6, captures knight).
  5. Best move: Rxg7# — rook e7→g7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Rxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4k2/p5r1/1pp2R1Q/4Np2/3qn3/8/PPP3PP/4R2K b - - 1 29

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