Chess Puzzle #ViPvp — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d7; rooks b7/f1; knights a3/h3; pawns a2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen d2; rooks a8/h8; knights e4/f5; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nfg3+ — knight f5→g3, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: hxg3 — pawn h2→g3, captures knight. Opponent replies Nxg3+ (knight e4→g3, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Kg1 — king h1→g1. Opponent replies Qd4+ (queen d2→d4, gives check).
4. Best move: Rf2 — rook f1→f2. Opponent replies Qd1+ (queen d4→d1, gives check).
5. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move hxg3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4k1r/pR1Q1pp1/4p2p/3pPn2/4n3/N6N/P2q2PP/5R1K b - - 2 24

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