Chess Puzzle #f79qO — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks f1/f6; bishop c3; pawns a3/b2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks e4/e8; knight e3; pawns a4/b7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf1 — knight e3→f1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen h5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Rxc6 — rook f6→c6, captures queen. Opponent replies Ng3+ (knight f1→g3, gives check).
4. Best move: Kh2 — king h1→h2.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Qf7+.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1p4p1/2q2R1p/7Q/p3r3/P1B1n2P/1P4P1/5R1K b - - 0 37

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