Chess Puzzle #K2q2v — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks d1/e3; bishop f1; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen e7; rooks d8/g8; bishop e6; knights c5/f6; pawns a7/b7/d6/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight f6→d5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rg3+ — rook e3→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh6+ — queen h4→h6, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move is Rg3+.

Position data

FEN: 3r2r1/pp2qpk1/3pbn2/2nNp3/4P2Q/4R3/PPP2PPP/3R1BK1 b - - 6 20

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.