Chess Puzzle #8YytJ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen f7; rooks d1/h1; knight c5; pawns b2/c2/e5/f2/g4/h5. Black: king d7; queen a2; rooks a8/h8; bishop e7; knight g8; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kc6 — king d7→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen f7→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc5 (king c6→c5, captures knight).
3. Best move: b4+ — pawn b2→b4, gives check. Opponent replies Kb5 (king c5→b5).
4. Best move: Rxd5+ — rook d1→d5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen a2→d5, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen e6→d5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5nr/1p1kbQp1/p3p2p/2NpP2P/6P1/8/qPP2P2/2KR3R b - - 3 19

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