Chess Puzzle #HWs7P — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h5; rooks f1/h1; bishop d2; pawns a2/b2/d3/e5/f4/g2. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks g6/g7; knight d5; pawns a7/c6/d7/e6/f5/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxg2 — rook g6→g2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen h5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook g7→g8).
3. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h1→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qf7+ — queen e8→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
5. Best move: Rh1+ — rook f1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Rh2 (rook g2→h2).
6. Best move: Rxh2# — rook h1→h2, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/p1qp2rp/2p1p1r1/3nPp1Q/5P2/3P4/PP1B2P1/2K2R1R b - - 3 22

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