Chess Puzzle #FQi1q — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2288 · Expert · crushing, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king d2; queen g3; rook a1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/c2/h2. Black: king g5; queen d4; rooks a8/h8; bishop h1; knight g8; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/g6. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg4 — queen d4→g4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen g3→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh4 (king g5→h4).
  3. Best move: Qxh8+ — queen e5→h8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qh5 (queen g4→h5).
  4. Best move: Qd4+ — queen h8→d4, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5nr/pp6/2p1p1p1/6k1/3q4/3B2Q1/PPPK3P/R6b 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.