Chess Puzzle #9bPCW — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishop e3; knight c3; pawns a2/c2/e6/f2/g2/g7. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/e8; bishop d6; knight b2; pawns a7/b7/c5/e4/f5/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe6 — rook e8→e6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh5 — queen e2→h5. Opponent replies h6 (pawn h7→h6).
3. Best move: Qxf5 — queen h5→f5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Re5 (rook e6→e5).
4. Best move: Qf6 — queen f5→f6.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, master, middlegame. The key move is Qh5.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp4Pp/3bP3/q1p2p2/4p3/2N1B3/PnP1QPP1/2KR3R b - - 0 19

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