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

Position

White: king h1; queen c8; rooks b1/f1; pawns c7/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen d4; rooks a2/f2; pawns d5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxg2 — rook f2→g2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen c8→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g7→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: c8=Q+ — pawn c7→c8, promotes to queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
4. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f1→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g7→f7, captures rook).
5. Best move: Rb7+ — rook b1→b7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king f7→f6).
6. Best move: Qh8+ — queen c8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king f6→f5).
7. Best move: Qxd4 — queen h8→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, attraction, crushing, endgame, promotion, sacrifice, skewer, very long. The key move Rxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2Q5/2P2pkp/6p1/3p4/3q4/7P/r4rP1/1R3R1K b - - 1 32

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