Chess Puzzle #4BGWl — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rooks a6/f6; bishop e6; pawns c4/d5/h3/h6. Black: king h8; queen c2; rooks b2/f8; knight e8; pawns c5/d6/e5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf6 — rook f8→f6, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen g5→f6, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf6 (knight e8→f6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a6→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Rb8 (rook b2→b8).
4. Best move: Rxb8+ — rook a8→b8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ne8 (knight f6→e8).
5. Best move: Rxe8# — rook b8→e8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4nr1k/7p/R2pBRpP/2pPp1Q1/2P5/7P/1rq5/6K1 b - - 0 30

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