Chess Puzzle #Mesbf — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rook f1; bishop a2; knight f5; pawns a3/b4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook e8; bishop e5; knight e4; pawns a6/b5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg4 — queen f3→g4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bh2+ — bishop e5→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Nxf2+ — knight e4→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f1→f2, captures knight).
4. Best move: Re1+ — rook e8→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f2→f1).
5. Best move: Rxf1# — rook e1→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/2q2ppp/p7/1p2bN2/1P2n3/P4Q1P/B4PP1/5RK1 w - - 1 31

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