Chess Puzzle #jC93A — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks c1/f1; bishop e3; pawns a2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks a8/f8; bishops c3/c8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxe5 — bishop c3→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
4. Best move: Rfxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rfxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rnb2rk1/pp3ppp/8/4P3/8/2b1BQ2/Pq4PP/2R2RK1 b - - 1 16

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