Chess Puzzle #dweUg — Master, White to move, endgame

Position

White: king f3; rook h7; pawns e3/e4/g7. Black: king d7; queen b2; rook a8; pawns a2/c4/d6/e5. Black is ahead by 10 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a1=Q — pawn a2→a1, promotes to queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: g8=Q+ — pawn g7→g8, promotes to queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kc6 (king d7→c6).
3. Best move: Qxc4+ — queen g8→c4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb6 (king c6→b6).
4. Best move: Qc7+ — queen c4→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Ka6 (king b6→a6).
5. Best move: Qc6+ — queen c7→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Ka5 (king a6→a5).
6. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen c6→a8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, discovered attack, discovered check, endgame, fork, promotion, very long. The key move Qxc4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/3k2PR/3p4/4p3/2p1P3/4PK2/pq6/8 b - - 0 40

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