Chess Puzzle #KaOow — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rooks a1/g1; bishop g2; pawns a2/c3/f2/h2. Black: king h8; queen g4; rooks f6/h5; pawns a7/b6/e6/g7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be4 — bishop g2→e4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook h5→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king h1→h2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rh6+ — rook f6→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Qh3 (queen d3→h3).
4. Best move: Qxh3# — queen g4→h3, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/p5p1/1p2pr2/7r/6q1/2PQ4/P4PBP/R5RK w - - 4 26

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