Chess Puzzle #uNKaQ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2249 · Expert · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g2; rooks c1/h1; bishop c4; knights e7/f3; pawns b3/e5/f4/g3. Black: king h8; queen c6; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; pawns b5/c5/d4/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb6 — queen c6→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h1→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Ng5+ — knight f3→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  4. Best move: Rh1+ — rook c1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
  5. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h1→h6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  6. Best move: Rh7# — rook h6→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/4N1bp/2q3p1/1pp1P3/2Bp1P2/1P3NP1/6K1/2R4R b - - 1 35

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