Chess Puzzle #Br1Ru — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1435 · Intermediate · double check, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king f1; queen c4; rook d1; bishop b3; knights a3/f7; pawns b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knight d7; pawns a5/c6/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nb6 — knight d7→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh6+ — knight f7→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qg8+ — queen c4→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg8 (rook f8→g8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Nf7# — knight h6→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

double check, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/2qnbNpp/2p5/p3p3/2Q5/NB6/1PP2PPP/3R1K2 b - - 0 20

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.