Chess Puzzle #0r3LS — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen h5; rooks b1/e1; pawns a2/c4/d5/f2. Black: king f6; queen e7; rooks d8/g2; pawns a7/c5/e5/f4/h3/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg7 — queen e7→g7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen h5→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king f6→g6).
3. Best move: Qe6+ — queen e5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Qf6 (queen g7→f6).
4. Best move: Qxh3 — queen e6→h3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Qxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/p3q2p/5k2/2pPp2Q/2P2p2/7p/P4Pr1/1R2RK2 b - - 3 34

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