Chess Puzzle #Ex2SQ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks c1/h2; bishop b1; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/c5/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen f3; rooks e3/f8; bishops d7/h4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rfe8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen c2→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Rf1 — rook c1→f1.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Qh7+.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pp1b1pp1/2p4p/2Pp4/6Pb/4rq1P/PPQ1N2R/1BR3K1 b - - 5 21

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