Chess Puzzle #2yyjf — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1341 · Intermediate · advantage, long, opening.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knights e2/f3; pawns a2/b2/e5/f2/g2/h4. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/c8; knight f5; pawns a6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh4 — knight f5→h4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen d1→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Bd7 (bishop c8→d7).
  3. Best move: Qxh4 — queen a4→h4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxh4 (queen d8→h4, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Nxh4 — knight f3→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, opening. The key move is Qa4+.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/5pp1/p3p2p/2bpPn2/7P/5N2/PP2NPP1/R1BQ1RK1 b kq - 0 13

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.