Chess Puzzle #5cLRP — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2237 · Expert · attraction, deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king c1; queen f3; rooks d1/h1; bishop g7; pawns a2/b3/c2/d2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; knights b8/e4; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxg7 — king g8→g7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh7+ — rook h1→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g7→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  4. Best move: Rh1# — rook d1→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn1qr1k1/pp3pB1/2p5/6p1/4n3/1P3Q2/P1PP4/2KR3R b - - 0 21

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

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.