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

Rating 2163 · Expert · advantage, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; bishops c1/d5; pawns a3/c4/d3/g2. Black: king g8; queen a1; rooks d8/f8; knight c5; pawns a7/b6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf7 — rook f8→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg5+ — queen h6→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen g5→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
  4. Best move: Qg5+ — queen d8→g5, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/p7/1p5Q/2nB4/2P5/P2P4/6P1/q1B3K1 b - - 2 35

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.