Chess Puzzle #0jCTl — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishops c4/g5; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b6/c8; knights e5/e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d4/d7/f7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc4 — knight e5→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Bh6+ — bishop g5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh6 (rook h8→h6, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qxh6# — queen d2→h6, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/ppppnp2/1b6/4n1B1/2BpN3/8/PPPQ1PPP/R4RK1 b kq - 1 13

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