Chess Puzzle #Pupw8 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b1; rooks c7/f1; bishop c5; pawns e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a3; rooks a8/h8; bishop b4; pawns b5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc5 — bishop b4→c5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxb5+ — queen b1→b5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Qd7 — queen b5→d7. Opponent replies Be7 (bishop c5→e7).
4. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c7→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook a8→c8, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen d7→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bd8 (bishop e7→d8).
6. Best move: Qxd8# — queen c8→d8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 5, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/2R2ppp/4p3/1pBpP3/1b6/q7/5PPP/1Q3RK1 b kq - 1 20

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