Chess Puzzle #Lq3XG — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1958 · Advanced · advantage, attraction, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rooks c1/f3; knight d4; pawns a2/b3/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks c7/f8; knight b6; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg5 — queen f6→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen b4→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight d4→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  4. Best move: Nxg5 — knight e6→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/2r2pp1/pn2pq1p/1p1p4/1Q1N4/1PP2R2/P4PPP/2R3K1 b - - 4 24

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.