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

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/e4; knight h4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king f7; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops d7/f8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/f6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be7 — bishop f8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen f3→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f7→g8).
3. Best move: Rg4+ — rook e4→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Bxg4 (bishop d7→g4, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxg4+ — queen h5→g4, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
5. Best move: Ng6+ — knight h4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king f8→f7).
6. Best move: Nxe7 — knight g6→e7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxg4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4b1r/pppb1k2/1q1p1p1p/3Pp3/4R2N/5QP1/PPP2P1P/R5K1 b - - 2 18

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