Chess Puzzle #6TBmK — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; knights b1/g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/f4/g2/h5. Black: king g6; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/e3; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c4/c7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf5 — king g6→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: g4+ — pawn g2→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Nxg4 (knight f6→g4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qe4+ — queen f3→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king f5→f6).
4. Best move: Qg6+ — queen e4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f6→e7).
5. Best move: Qf7+ — queen g6→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd6 (king e7→d6).
6. Best move: Ne4# — knight g5→e4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 5, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Ne4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bq3r/ppp3p1/2n2nkp/6NP/2p2P2/2P1bQ2/PP4P1/RN2K2R b KQ - 0 15

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