Chess Puzzle #3mZpS — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks g1/h1; knight d5; pawns b2/b3/c2/d3/e4/g3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishop g4; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/e5/f7/g7/h3. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh6 — queen f6→h6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6 — queen d2→h6, captures queen. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nf6+ — knight d5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
4. Best move: Nxg4 — knight f6→g4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1pp2pp1/p2p1q2/3Np3/4P1b1/1P1P2Pp/1PPQ4/2K3RR b - - 1 18

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