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

Position

White: king f1; queen h5; rook e1; bishops c2/g5; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h2; rook e8; bishop c7; knight f5; pawns a6/b5/d5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf3 — knight d2→f3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Ng1 (knight f3→g1).
3. Best move: Qxg1+ — queen h1→g1, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg1 (king f1→g1, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e8→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/2b2ppp/p7/1p1p1nBQ/8/2P4P/PPBN1PPq/4RK2 w - - 3 23

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