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

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/e1; bishop e2; knight g4; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishops d6/e4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh7 — king g8→h7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd2 — queen d1→d2. Opponent replies Rh8 (rook f8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen d2→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
4. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight g4→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen d8→f6, captures knight).
5. Best move: Qxf6 — queen h6→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1rk1/pp3p2/2pb1p1p/3p4/3Pb1N1/8/PP2BPPP/2RQR1K1 b - - 1 16

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