Chess Puzzle #9AbL4 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen e7; rook f1; bishops d3/e3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e5. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook h3; bishop g7; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/d5/g4/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe3 — rook h3→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen e7→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qe8+ — queen f7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Nf8 (knight d7→f8).
4. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop g7→f8, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, fork, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/pp1nQ1b1/1q5p/3pP3/3P2p1/2PBB2r/PP4K1/5R2 b - - 1 32

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