Chess Puzzle #8g0sS — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d7; rooks b7/g4; pawns a4/c6/f5/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen c5; rooks c1/g8; pawns a6/d4/e5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: d3 — pawn d4→d3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen d7→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg7 (rook g8→g7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rb8+ — rook b7→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen c5→f8).
4. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook b8→f8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook g7→g8).
5. Best move: Rgxg8# — rook g4→g8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rgxg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/1R1Q2pp/p1P2p2/2q1pP2/P2p2R1/7P/6PK/2r5 b - - 7 32

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