Chess Puzzle #mp4vg — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen a6; rooks e6/f1; bishop d7; pawns a3/f4/g2. Black: king g5; queen d4; rooks c3/h8; bishop d3; pawns d5/f7/g7/h7. 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: Rh6+ — rook e6→h6, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
3. Best move: g4+ — pawn g2→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh4 (king h5→h4).
4. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen a6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg3 (king h4→g3).
5. Best move: Qh2# — queen h6→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7r/3B1ppp/Q3R3/3p2k1/3q1P2/P1rb4/6P1/5R1K b - - 0 29

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