Chess Puzzle #81REg — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1438 · Intermediate · advantage, defensive move, endgame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king f1; queen e2; rook h1; bishop b3; pawns a4/b2/c3/e4/f3/h4. Black: king h6; queen d3; rook f8; bishop b6; pawns a5/b7/c6/d6/e5/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb1+ — queen d3→b1, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kg2 — king f1→g2. Opponent replies Qxh1+ (queen b1→h1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kxh1 — king g2→h1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, endgame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Kg2.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/1p3p2/1bpp2pk/p3p3/P3P2P/1BPq1P2/1P2Q3/5K1R b - - 1 26

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.