Chess Puzzle #8jnmS — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1418 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen h4; rooks a1/f1; bishops d2/d3; pawns a3/b2/c2/e5/f6/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks b8/f8; bishop a6; knight d4; pawns a5/d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd3 — bishop a6→d3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh6 — queen h4→h6. Opponent replies Nxc2+ (knight d4→c2, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kd1 — king e1→d1. Opponent replies Be2+ (bishop d3→e2, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxe2 — king d1→e2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Qh6.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/5p1p/bq2pPp1/p2pP3/3n2PQ/P2B4/1PPB3P/R3KR2 b Q - 0 22

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.