Chess Puzzle #0da9h — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f2; bishops c1/f7; knight f3; pawns a3/c3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b6; rooks a8/e1; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe1 — knight f3→e1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen b6→f2, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen f2→e1, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qf1 (queen d3→f1).
4. Best move: Qxf1# — queen e1→f1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6k/pp3Bpp/1q6/8/6n1/P1PQ1N2/5RPP/R1B1r1K1 w - - 1 25

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