Chess Puzzle #QAXv8 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2738 · Master · clearance, crushing, endgame, long.

Position

White: king g2; queen a7; rook b7; knight d4; pawns b5/e3/f3/g3/h3. Black: king g6; queen d6; rook c4; bishop d3; pawns b6/d5/f6/g5/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd4 — rook c4→d4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rg7+ — rook b7→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g6→h6).
  3. Best move: Rg8 — rook g7→g8. Opponent replies Qe6 (queen d6→e6).
  4. Best move: Qg7+ — queen a7→g7, gives check.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Rg7+.

Position data

FEN: 8/QR5p/1p1q1pk1/1P1p2p1/2rN4/3bPPPP/6K1/8 b - - 4 38

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.