Chess Puzzle #T4jGf — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1990 · Advanced · crushing, deflection, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h2; queen e3; rooks f1/h4; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/g3/h3. Black: king h7; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop e5; pawns a6/b4/e6/f5/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxe4 — pawn f5→e4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen e3→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen h6→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qg7 (queen c7→g7).
  4. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen g6→e6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/2q4k/p3p1pp/3Pbp2/1p2N2R/4Q1PP/PPP4K/5R2 b - - 1 31

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.