Chess Puzzle #Lom8i — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop g7; knights e2/e4; pawns a3/b3/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights c5/e7; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxg7 — king g8→g7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd4+ — queen d1→d4, gives check. Opponent replies f6 (pawn f7→f6).
3. Best move: Qxc5 — queen d4→c5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen b6→c5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxc5 — knight e4→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move is Qd4+.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/4npBp/pq2p1p1/1pn5/4N3/PP6/2P1NPPP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 15

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