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

Position

White: king h3; queen e3; rooks e6/g1; pawns a4/b2/c3. Black: king g5; queen f4; rook f7; bishop f8; knight c6; pawns a5/b7/c7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh5 — king g5→h5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rg5+ — rook g1→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Qxg5 (queen f4→g5, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qe2+ — queen e3→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Rf3+ (rook f7→f3, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen e2→f3, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qg4+ (queen g5→g4, gives check).
5. Best move: Qxg4# — queen f3→g4, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxg4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5b2/1pp2r2/2n1R3/p5k1/P4q2/2P1Q2K/1P6/6R1 b - - 2 38

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