Chess Puzzle #StC8N — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2247 · Expert · advanced pawn, attraction, double check, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks a1/f1; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/c2/d2/f6/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen b2; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/e7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king h7→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: f7+ — pawn f6→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g8→f7, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Ng5+ — knight f3→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
  4. Best move: Qg6+ — queen e4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
  5. Best move: Ne6# — knight g5→e6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, attraction, double check, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Ne6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2b1r/pp1np1pk/2p2P1p/8/4Q3/1P3N2/PqPP2PP/R4RK1 b - - 0 15

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

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.