Chess Puzzle #b5uL5 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2254 · Expert · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen h3; rooks c2/h1; knights e2/e4; pawns a2/b2/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/d8; bishop b7; knight e7; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc2 — queen c5→c2, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  3. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  4. Best move: Qh6# — queen h7→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/pb2np1p/1p2p1p1/2q1P3/4NP2/7Q/PPR1N1PP/4K2R b K - 0 19

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.