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

Rating 2438 · Master · crushing, endgame, master, master vs master, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rook f1; pawns a3/b2/d5/e4/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen d7; rook c5; pawns a4/b6/c7/d6/e5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen d7→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf5+ — queen h5→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qc8+ — queen f5→c8, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, master vs master, short. The key move is Qf5+.

Position data

FEN: 8/2pq2pk/1p1p3p/2rPp2Q/p3P3/P6P/1P4P1/5RK1 b - - 8 34

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.