Chess Puzzle #QVZG1 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rooks e1/e6; bishop g4; pawns a2/c3/f2/f5/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen c7; rooks d8/e8; bishop g5; knight e5; pawns b7/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxg4 — knight e5→g4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a7→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Qb8 (queen c7→b8).
3. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen a8→b8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb8 (king c8→b8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxe8 — rook e6→e8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move Qxb8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2krr3/Qpq3pp/4Rp2/4nPb1/6B1/2P5/P4PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 21

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