Chess Puzzle #ObJcW — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2452 · Master · crushing, endgame, long, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rook e1; knight f3; pawns a2/c3/f2/h6. Black: king h8; queen c7; rook d3; bishop f7; pawns a7/b7/e6/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf3 — rook d3→f3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd4+ — queen h4→d4, gives check. Opponent replies e5 (pawn e6→e5).
  3. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rf6 (rook f3→f6).
  4. Best move: Rf5 — rook e5→f5.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, pin. The key move is Qd4+.

Position data

FEN: 7k/ppq2b2/4p1pP/8/7Q/2Pr1N2/P4P2/4R1K1 b - - 0 31

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.