Chess Puzzle #7henf — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1624 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c2; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishops c3/e2; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/e6/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; knights f2/g2; pawns a7/b6/c5/d6/e7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh1 — knight f2→h1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh6 — queen d2→h6. Opponent replies Ne3+ (knight g2→e3, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxe3 — queen h6→e3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Qh6.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/p3p2p/1p1pP1p1/2pP4/2P5/2B5/PPKQBnnP/R6R b - - 1 18

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.