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

Rating 2331 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks d1/d3; knight e4; pawns a2/c3/e5/h4. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks c4/c8; knight f5; pawns a7/b6/e6/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh4 — queen e7→h4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen g4→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Nf6 — knight e4→f6.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, middlegame, short. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/p3q3/1p2p1p1/4Pn2/2r1N1QP/2PR4/P7/3R2K1 b - - 2 29

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.