Chess Puzzle #HA87R — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rook a1; bishops c4/g5; pawns a2/d4/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop e2; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh7 — king g8→h7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh4 — queen g3→h4. Opponent replies Bxc4 (bishop e2→c4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h4→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
4. Best move: Bxf6 — bishop g5→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen e7→f6, captures bishop).
5. Best move: Qxf6 — queen h6→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/ppp1qp2/3p1n1p/6B1/2BPP3/6Q1/P3bPPP/R5K1 b - - 0 20

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