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

Position

White: king f1; queen h5; rooks c4/g3; bishop b5; pawns a2/b2/e5/f2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a8/f8; bishop b4; pawns a7/c7/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd2 — queen d4→d2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh4 — rook c4→h4. Opponent replies Qd1+ (queen d2→d1, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxd1 — queen h5→d1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Rh4.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p1p2p1p/4p1p1/1B2P2Q/1bRq4/6R1/PP3P1P/5K2 b - - 1 18

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