Chess Puzzle #gXDoS — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen f2; rook g1; bishops d3/g5; knight d5; pawns b2/e4/h2. Black: king h8; queen h3; rooks a8/f8; bishop a4; knight b3; pawns a6/b5/c5/e5/f5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd3+ — queen h3→d3, captures bishop, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ka2 — king b1→a2. Opponent replies f6 (pawn f7→f6).
3. Best move: Qxf5 — queen f2→f5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qf3 (queen d3→f3).
4. Best move: Qxf3 — queen f5→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Ka2.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/5p1p/p7/1ppNppB1/b3P3/1n1B3q/1P3Q1P/1K4R1 b - - 3 27

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