Chess Puzzle #41ihp — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1459 · Intermediate · capturing the defender, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rooks e1/f1; knight h2; pawns a3/b4/c2/d3/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen e5; rooks d8/h8; bishop d6; knight e2; pawns a6/b7/c7/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kb8 — king c8→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe5 — queen f5→e5, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxe5 (bishop d6→e5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe2 — rook e1→e2, captures knight.

Tactical themes

capturing the defender, equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/1pp3p1/p2b4/4qQ1p/1P6/P2P3P/2P1n1PN/4RR1K b - - 0 25

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.