Chess Puzzle #q7AHh — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rook e1; bishop c4; pawns a2/b2/e6/f2/h2/h3. Black: king f8; queen e8; rook a8; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f6/g5/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc6 — queen e8→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh7 — queen e4→h7. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen c6→c4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ng8 (knight e7→g8).
4. Best move: Qh5 — queen h8→h5. Opponent replies Qxe6 (queen c4→e6, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Rxe6 — rook e1→e6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Qh7.

Position data

FEN: r3qk2/ppp1n1p1/3pPp2/6p1/2B1Q3/7P/PP3P1P/4R1K1 b - - 2 20

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