Chess Puzzle #HVXzE — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen g4; rook c2; bishop b2; knight d3; pawns b4/e3/f2/h6. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a2/e8; bishop a7; pawns c6/d5/f6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh2 — queen d6→h2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd7 — queen g4→d7. Opponent replies Qh1+ (queen h2→h1, gives check).
3. Best move: Ke2 — king f1→e2. Opponent replies Rxe3+ (rook e8→e3, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: fxe3 — pawn f2→e3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Qd7.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/b6p/2pq1ppP/3p4/1P4Q1/3NP3/rBR2P2/5K2 b - - 1 30

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