Chess Puzzle #TJaVd — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks b7/f1; knight a3; pawns a4/a6/c5/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king a8; queen c8; rooks g5/h8; knight f6; pawns c6/d5/f7/g6/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook b7→f7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook g5→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg2 (king g1→g2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen c8→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king g2→g1).
4. Best move: Qh2# — queen h3→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: k1q4r/1R3pp1/P1p2np1/2Pp2r1/P7/NQ2P2P/5PP1/5RK1 w - - 2 22

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