Chess Puzzle #LJmjP — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1575 · Intermediate · advantage, defensive move, master, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/d3; knights b1/d4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d2/e3/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen h4; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights b8/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d7/e6/f7/g4. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg3+ — queen h4→g3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: hxg3 — pawn h2→g3, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxh1+ (rook h8→h1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Bf1 — bishop d3→f1.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, master, opening, short. The key move hxg3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rnb1kbnr/pppp1p2/4p3/8/3N2pq/3BP1P1/PPPP3P/RNBQK2R b KQkq - 0 7

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.