Chess Puzzle #Icu5U — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rook a1; knight f5; pawns a2/c3/f6/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen d2; rook d8; bishop b7; pawns a7/c4/c5/e5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd3 — rook d8→d3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg4 — queen h3→g4. Opponent replies Rxc3 (rook d3→c3, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qg7+ — queen g4→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
4. Best move: Qg8+ — queen g7→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
5. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen g8→f7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, endgame, very long. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1k2/pb3p1p/5P2/2p1pN2/2p5/2P4Q/P2q2PP/R5K1 b - - 2 23

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