Chess Puzzle #KhIP2 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1455 · Intermediate · advantage, deflection, endgame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen e5; rook d1; knight f3; pawns a2/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook b8; knight f6; pawns a6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb2 — queen b6→b2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook b8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxb2 — queen e5→b2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, endgame, short. The key move is Rd8+.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/5pp1/pq2pn1p/4Q3/4P3/5N1P/P4PPK/3R4 b - - 1 27

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.