Chess Puzzle #Lvcu5 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishop e3; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g6; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/f8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bf5 — bishop c8→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc4 — queen d3→c4. Opponent replies d5 (pawn d6→d5).
3. Best move: Qh4 — queen c4→h4. Opponent replies Rxe3 (rook e8→e3, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h4→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg5 (king g6→g5, captures knight).
5. Best move: f4+ — pawn f2→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g5→f6).
6. Best move: Qh4+ — queen h7→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king f6→g6).
7. Best move: Qxd8 — queen h4→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice, skewer, very long. The key move is Qc4.

Position data

FEN: rnbqrb2/pp3pp1/2pp2k1/6N1/8/3QB2P/PPP2PP1/R4RK1 b - - 3 15

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