Chess Puzzle #8q3M2 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d5; rook e8; pawns a2/c3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g6; queen b2; rook f6; pawns a4/b5/c5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen b2→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h4 — pawn h3→h4. Opponent replies h5 (pawn h6→h5).
3. Best move: Rh8 — rook e8→h8.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, quiet move, short. The key move is h4.

Position data

FEN: 4R3/6p1/5rkp/1ppQ4/p3P3/2P4P/Pq4PK/8 b - - 1 35

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.