Chess Puzzle #dwHMp — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2273 · Expert · epaulette mate, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king f2; rooks a1/d7; bishop e1; knight a5; pawns c6/f3/h4. Black: king g8; rooks e8/h1; knight f4; pawns a7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c7 — pawn c6→c7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re2+ — rook e8→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg3 (king f2→g3).
  3. Best move: Nh5+ — knight f4→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg4 (king g3→g4).
  4. Best move: Rg1+ — rook h1→g1, gives check. Opponent replies Bg3 (bishop e1→g3).
  5. Best move: Rxg3+ — rook g1→g3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh5 (king g4→h5, captures knight).
  6. Best move: Re5# — rook e2→e5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

epaulette mate, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Re5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p2R2p1/2P4p/N7/5n1P/5P2/5K2/R3B2r w - - 5 40

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.