Chess Puzzle #Lf1ix — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen g1; rooks e1/g2; bishop c1; pawns a2/b2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks e8/f8; bishops c4/g7; pawns a5/b4/c5/f5/f7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe1 — queen e5→e1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook g2→g7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Rg8+ — rook g7→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg8 (rook f8→g8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qh2+ — queen g1→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Qh4 (queen e1→h4).
5. Best move: Qxh4+ — queen h2→h4, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
6. Best move: Qh6# — queen h4→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

dovetail mate, fork, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/5pb1/8/p1p1qp2/1pb5/8/PP4R1/1KB1R1Q1 b - - 1 34

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