Chess Puzzle #EsQFm — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2148 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rooks d1/d2; knight e3; pawns a2/b2/c3/e4/f2/f3/h2. Black: king e7; queen e6; rooks d8/h8; knight d3; pawns a7/b6/c5/c6/e5/f6/g5/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight d3→f4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd8 — rook d2→d8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook h8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh7+ — queen f5→h7, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxd8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r3r/p3k3/1pp1qp2/2p1pQpp/4P3/2PnNP2/PP1R1P1P/3R3K b - - 5 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.