Chess Puzzle #b6vjl — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rooks g1/g2; knight e5; pawns a2/b3/e4/f2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f3; rooks d8/f8; bishop c5; pawns a7/b6/d3/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen f3→e2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxg6 — knight e5→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxg6+ — rook g2→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f7→g6, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxg6+ — rook g1→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
5. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h4→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
6. Best move: Rxe6+ — rook g6→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Be7 (bishop c5→e7).
7. Best move: Rxe7# — rook e6→e7, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, epaulette mate, kingside attack, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxe7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/p4p1p/1p2p1p1/2b1N3/4P2Q/1P1p1q2/P4PRP/6RK b - - 2 26

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