Chess Puzzle #40sWZ — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen g3; rooks a1/g1; bishop h2; pawns a3/b4/e4/f4. Black: king g8; queen b3; rooks c2/c3; pawns b6/b7/d6/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg5 — queen g3→g5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook c2→h2, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king h1→h2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rh3+ — rook c3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h2→g2).
4. Best move: Qf3# — queen b3→f3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice, triangle mate. The combination ends with Qf3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1p5p/1p1p2p1/8/1P2PP2/Pqr3Q1/2r4B/R5RK w - - 1 31

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