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

Rating 2290 · Expert · clearance, crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook e2; bishops c2/e7; pawns a2/c3/d4/f2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rook a8; knights d7/g6; pawns a7/b6/c6/d5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe7 — knight g6→e7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ng8 (knight e7→g8).
  4. Best move: Bh7 — bishop c2→h7.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move is Qh7+.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p2nBpp1/1pp2qnp/3p4/3P4/2PQ1P2/P1B1RPPP/6K1 b - - 1 18

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.