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

Rating 2236 · Expert · endgame, mate, mate in 5, very long.

Position

White: king f1; rooks b1/c7; bishop d5; pawns e4/g2/h4. Black: king c5; rooks a4/h8; knight b6; pawns b5/e5/f6/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd4 — king c5→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd1+ — rook b1→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king d4→e3).
  3. Best move: Rc3+ — rook c7→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf4 (king e3→f4).
  4. Best move: g3+ — pawn g2→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg4 (king f4→g4).
  5. Best move: Be6+ — bishop d5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies f5 (pawn f6→f5).
  6. Best move: Bxf5# — bishop e6→f5, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 5, very long. The combination ends with Bxf5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7r/2R3p1/1n3p2/1pkBp2p/r3P2P/8/6P1/1R3K2 b - - 17 36

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.