Chess Puzzle #7Xxkf — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h5; rooks d1/h1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/f2/g2. Black: king f7; queen e7; rooks a8/e2; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/f6/g5/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king f7→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg6 — queen h5→g6. Opponent replies Qf7 (queen e7→f7).
3. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h1→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
4. Best move: d6+ — pawn d5→d6, gives check.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Qg6.

Position data

FEN: rn6/pp2qkp1/5p2/2pP2pQ/3p4/8/PPP1rPP1/2KR3R b - - 3 21

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