Chess Puzzle #136r9 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen g3; rooks d1/f1; knight f3; pawns a2/d4/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks c8/d8; bishop d7; knight b4; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc3 — rook c8→c3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh4 — queen g3→h4. Opponent replies Rdc8 (rook d8→c8).
3. Best move: Ng5 — knight f3→g5. Opponent replies Qxg5 (queen f5→g5, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxg5 — queen h4→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Qh4.

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/1p1b1p1p/p3p1p1/3pPq2/1n1P4/5NQP/P5P1/3R1R1K b - - 5 24

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