Chess Puzzle #6OwQc — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen h1; rook c1; bishops d3/f4; knights e4/f3; pawns c2/d4/e3/f2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks a8/e8; bishop g7; knights g6/h7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/e7/f6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f6→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h1→h7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Neg5+ — knight e4→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
4. Best move: Nxe6 — knight g5→e6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp2p1bn/2ppqpn1/8/3PNB2/3BPN2/2P1KP2/2R4Q b - - 3 21

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