Chess Puzzle #166oC — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2222 · Expert · advantage, defensive move, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks e3/e7; bishop h7; pawns c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c5; rooks a8/f8; bishop c6; pawns a4/b7/d5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a3 — pawn a4→a3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg6 — queen c2→g6. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook f8→g8).
  3. Best move: Bxg8 — bishop h7→g8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxg8 (rook a8→g8, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: R3e6 — rook e3→e6. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen c5→e7, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e6→e7, captures queen. Opponent replies a2 (pawn a3→a2).
  6. Best move: Re1 — rook e7→e1.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, middlegame, very long. The key move is Qg6.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/1p2R1pB/2b4p/2qp4/p7/2P1R3/2Q2PPP/6K1 b - - 3 28

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

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.