Chess Puzzle #7xD6o — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen g4; knight b4; pawns a4/b2/c2/g2/h3. Black: king e6; queen e7; rook d8; pawns d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f7→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe2+ — queen g4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king e6→f7).
3. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen e2→e7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe7 (king f7→e7, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nc6+ — knight b4→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e7→d7).
5. Best move: Nxd8 — knight c6→d8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, very long. The key move Qxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/4qppp/4k3/3p4/PN4Q1/7P/1PP2KP1/8 b - - 7 30

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