Chess Puzzle #9fMJP — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen b5; rooks c1/e1; pawns b3/c7/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks c8/e8; pawns a7/d5/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf4 — queen d4→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rf1 — rook e1→f1. Opponent replies Qg5 (queen f4→g5).
3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen b5→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook c8→e8, captures queen).
4. Best move: c8=Q — pawn c7→c8, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, long, promotion. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/p1P3pp/4p3/1Q1p4/3q4/1P6/6PP/2R1R2K b - - 1 27

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