Chess Puzzle #BScTN — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d4; pawns e5/f5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a2; pawns a6/b5/c4/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb3 — queen a2→b3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: e6 — pawn e5→e6. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: fxe6 — pawn f5→e6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qd3 (queen b3→d3).
4. Best move: Qe5 — queen d4→e5.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, queen endgame. The key move is e6.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5pp1/p6p/1p2PP2/2pQ4/7P/q5PK/8 b - - 0 35

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