Chess Puzzle #9Yl0E — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f8; rook f1; bishop e4; pawns a3/b2/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen g5; rook c1; bishop e8; pawns a5/b7/e6/g6/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf2 — queen f8→f2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh4 — queen g5→h4. Opponent replies Qg1 (queen f2→g1).
3. Best move: Rxf1 — rook c1→f1, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxf1 (queen g1→f1, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxe4 — queen h4→e4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long, pin. The key move is Qh4.

Position data

FEN: 4bQ2/1p5k/4p1pp/p3P1q1/3PB3/P7/1P4PP/2r2R1K w - - 3 35

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