Chess Puzzle #Y5Ncs — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen c2; rooks g3/h1; bishop g6; pawns a2/c3/c4/d4/f2/f3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/e8; knight f6; pawns a5/b6/c7/d6/e6/f7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: fxg6 — pawn f7→g6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen c2→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen g6→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen e7→f6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxh5+ — rook h1→h5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qh6 (queen f6→h6).
5. Best move: Rxh6# — rook h5→h6, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/2p1qp2/1p1ppnB1/p6p/2PP4/2P2PR1/P1Q2P2/1K5R b - - 0 21

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