Chess Puzzle #2CcI3 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f6; rook g5; pawns e4/f3/g2/h3. Black: king a6; queen e2; rooks a8/d2; pawns a5/b6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc6 — queen f6→c6. Opponent replies Rad8 (rook a8→d8).
3. Best move: Qxa4+ — queen c6→a4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb7 (king a6→b7).
4. Best move: Rg7+ — rook g5→g7, gives check. Opponent replies R8d7 (rook d8→d7).
5. Best move: Rxd7+ — rook g7→d7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook d2→d7, captures rook).
6. Best move: Qxd7+ — queen a4→d7, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, very long. The key move Qxa4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/8/kp3Q2/p5R1/4P3/5P1P/3rq1PK/8 b - - 10 45

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