Chess Puzzle #0qkVG — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1589 · Intermediate · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/f1; bishop e2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/e5/g2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/g7; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe5 — bishop g7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb5+ — queen b3→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Bd7 (bishop c8→d7).
  3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen b5→e5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qb5+.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/pp2qpb1/4p2p/4P1p1/8/1QN3P1/PP2B1PP/R4RK1 b kq - 0 16

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.