Chess Puzzle #5gSz6 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; bishop b2; knight g5; pawns a3/f4/g2/h7. Black: king h8; queen c6; knights g4/g6; pawns a7/b6/d4/e5/f5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: fxe5 — pawn f4→e5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qc2 — queen c6→c2. Opponent replies Nf7+ (knight g5→f7, gives check).
3. Best move: Kg7 — king h8→g7. Opponent replies Qh6+ (queen h5→h6, gives check).
4. Best move: Nxh6 — knight g4→h6, captures queen. Opponent replies h8=Q+ (pawn h7→h8, promotes to queen, gives check).
5. Best move: Nxh8 — knight g6→h8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, very long. The key move is Qc2.

Position data

FEN: 7k/p6P/1pq3n1/4ppNQ/3p1Pn1/P7/1B4P1/6K1 w - - 0 40

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