Chess Puzzle #0LT0H — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rooks e1/f4; bishop h4; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e5/f2/g4/h3. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishop c6; pawns a5/b4/c4/d5/e6/f7/g6/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd8 — queen c7→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen g5→d8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook a8→d8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bxd8 — bishop h4→d8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/2q2pp1/2b1p1p1/p2pP1Q1/1ppP1RPB/2P4P/PP3P2/4R1K1 b kq - 2 25

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