Chess Puzzle #Xp3xP — Expert, Black to move, opening

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/f1; bishops d3/f4; knight f3; pawns a5/c4/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/g6; bishop b7; knights b8/d2; pawns a7/b6/d6/e6/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd2 — knight f3→d2, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook g6→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook g2→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king h1→h2, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d8→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
5. Best move: Qh1# — queen h4→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, discovered check, double check, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn1q2k1/pb4pp/1p1pp1r1/P4p2/2PP1B2/1Q1BPN2/3n1PPP/R4RK1 w - - 1 17

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