Chess Puzzle #9LjO9 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rook f1; knight f6; pawns a2/c4/d5/g4/h3. Black: king g7; queen c7; rooks b2/h8; pawns a6/c5/e5/e7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e4 — pawn e5→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne8+ — knight f6→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook h8→e8, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f3→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g7→h6).
4. Best move: g5+ — pawn g4→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh5 (king h6→h5).
5. Best move: Qh7+ — queen f7→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg5 (king h5→g5, captures pawn).
6. Best move: h4+ — pawn h3→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg4 (king g5→g4).
7. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen h7→g6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, deflection, endgame, fork, master, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7r/2q1p1k1/p4Np1/2pPp3/2P3P1/5Q1P/Pr6/5R1K b - - 0 34

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