Chess Puzzle #zkHvj — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c4/d3/f2/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks b5/f8; bishop d6; knight d5; pawns a7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh5 — queen e5→h5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nf4 — knight d5→f4. Opponent replies Qxb5 (queen h5→b5, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qh4 — queen d8→h4. Opponent replies Bxf4 (bishop c1→f4, captures knight).
4. Best move: Bxf4 — bishop d6→f4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rd1 (rook f1→d1).
5. Best move: Qh3 — queen h4→h3.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Nf4.

Position data

FEN: 3q1rk1/p4ppp/3b4/1r1nQ3/2P5/3P1P2/PP3P1P/RNB2RK1 w - - 1 17

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