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

Rating 2514 · Master · discovered check, double check, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king c1; rooks d1/h1; bishop b5; knight d7; pawns a3/b2/c2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g7; rooks c8/f8; bishop f5; knight a5; pawns b6/b7/f7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf8 — knight d7→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc2+ — rook c8→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: Rc1+ — rook c2→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Ka2 (king b1→a2).
  4. Best move: Bb1+ — bishop f5→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king a2→a1).
  5. Best move: Nb3# — knight a5→b3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered check, double check, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, queenside attack, very long. The combination ends with Nb3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2r2/1p1N1pkp/1p6/nB3b2/8/P4P2/1PP3PP/2KR3R w - - 3 20

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