Chess Puzzle #IhQWB — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1445 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen a1; bishop d6; knight g5; pawns a2/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f7; rook a8; bishop c8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c5/e4/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen f7→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf6 — queen a1→f6. Opponent replies Qd1+ (queen d5→d1, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2. Opponent replies Qxd6+ (queen d1→d6, captures bishop, gives check).
  4. Best move: Qxd6 — queen f6→d6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Qf6.

Position data

FEN: rnb3k1/pp3q1p/3B2p1/2pP2N1/4p3/7P/P4PP1/Q5K1 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.