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

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks a1/d1; bishop f4; knight g6; pawns b2/d4/f2/g3/h6. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks c8/d8; bishop b4; knight d5; pawns a5/b5/c4/e6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: hxg6 — pawn h7→g6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen e4→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: h7 — pawn h6→h7. Opponent replies Qg7 (queen e7→g7).
4. Best move: Bh6 — bishop f4→h6. Opponent replies Qxh6 (queen g7→h6, captures bishop).
5. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen g6→h6, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, clearance, crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/4q2p/4p1NP/pp1n4/1bpPQB2/6P1/1P3P2/R2R2K1 b - - 0 24

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