Chess Puzzle #01rQs — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b2; rooks e1/e7; pawns a2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen b7; rooks a8/g6; bishop d5; knight f4; pawns a6/b5/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king g7→g8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
4. Best move: Qh8# — queen b2→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/1q2Rpk1/p5rp/1p1b2p1/5n2/8/PQ4PP/4R1K1 b - - 3 35

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.