Chess Puzzle #ElA2f — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rook f1; knight f3; pawns d5/g5/h5. Black: king g7; queen c3; rooks b2/f8; pawns a6/c5/d6/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf7 — rook f8→f7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h6+ — pawn h5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
3. Best move: Qe8+ — queen d7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
4. Best move: h7+ — pawn h6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Qxf8 — queen e8→f8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qe3+ (queen c3→e3, gives check).
6. Best move: Kh1 — king g1→h1.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, deflection, endgame, very long. The key move is h6+.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/3Q2k1/p2p2p1/2pP2PP/8/2q2N2/1r6/5RK1 b - - 2 35

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