Chess Puzzle #j53sK — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2739 · Master · crushing, endgame, long.

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rook b6; knight f3; pawns d4/e5/f2/g2/g5. Black: king g7; queen e7; rook a3; bishop b5; pawns a4/c4/c6/d5/e6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h6→h5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf6+ — queen f4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen e7→f6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: exf6+ — pawn e5→f6, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g7→h7).
  4. Best move: Ne5 — knight f3→e5.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move exf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/4qpk1/1Rp1p1pp/1b1pP1P1/p1pP1Q2/r4N2/5PP1/6K1 b - - 0 35

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

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