Chess Puzzle #4c0YR — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2256 · Expert · crushing, middlegame, pin, very long.

Position

White: king b1; queen h5; rooks g1/h1; bishop d3; pawns a2/c2/c3. Black: king g8; queen e3; rooks a8/f8; bishop e6; pawns a7/b6/c6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd5 — bishop e6→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf5 — queen h5→f5. Opponent replies Rfe8 (rook f8→e8).
  3. Best move: Qh7+ — queen f5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  4. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen h7→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  5. Best move: Re1 — rook g1→e1.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Qxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p4pp1/1pp1b2p/7Q/8/2PBq3/P1P5/1K4RR b - - 1 21

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.