Chess Puzzle #4KYzm — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d3; queen a4; rooks c1/h3; bishop f4; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop f6; knight d4; pawns a6/b7/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen a4→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d8→e8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight e4→f6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
4. Best move: Rg1+ — rook c1→g1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
5. Best move: Bd6+ — bishop f4→d6, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/1p3pp1/p4b1p/3P4/Q2nNB2/3K3R/PP3P2/2R5 b - - 0 24

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