Chess Puzzle #C7Hld — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1460 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rook f1; bishop f6; pawns a2/b2/e6/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/e8; bishop c1; pawns a6/b7/c6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe6 — rook e8→e6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg4+ — queen h3→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qg7+ — queen g4→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
  4. Best move: Qg8+ — queen g7→g8, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Qg4+.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/1pq2p1p/p1p1PB2/8/8/7Q/PP3PP1/2b2R1K b - - 0 24

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

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.