Chess Puzzle #2VQAt — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 960 · Beginner · crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks e1/f1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a7/b6/c5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen e5→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxh7+ — bishop d3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxd5 — queen d2→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Bxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/p4ppp/1p6/2pPq3/8/3B4/PP1Q1PPP/4RRK1 b - - 1 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.