Chess Puzzle #uHGmG — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2436 · Master · fork, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king c1; queen f3; rooks d1/h1; bishops b2/f1; knights c3/e2; pawns b3/d2/e3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c5; rooks a8/h8; bishops f8/g6; knights e5/g8; pawns b7/c7/g7/h4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb7 — queen f3→b7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ra1+ — rook a8→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Bxa1 (bishop b2→a1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qa3+ — queen c5→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Bb2 (bishop a1→b2).
  4. Best move: Nd3+ — knight e5→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  5. Best move: Qxb2# — queen a3→b2, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3kbnr/1pp3p1/6b1/2q1n3/7p/1PN1PQ2/1B1PN1PP/2KR1B1R w kq - 4 19

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