Chess Puzzle #5B1c0 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rook d1; knight g5; pawns a2/f2/g2. Black: king f6; queen b2; rook e7; bishop g7; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc2 — queen b2→c2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf4+ — queen g4→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Qf5 (queen c2→f5).
3. Best move: Rd6+ — rook d1→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Re6 (rook e7→e6).
4. Best move: Rxe6# — rook d6→e6, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxe6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/1p2r1bp/p1n2kp1/6N1/6Q1/8/Pq3PP1/3R2K1 b - - 7 26

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