Chess Puzzle #k2HVK — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1874 · Advanced · advantage, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen g6; rook h1; bishop f1; knight d1; pawns a3/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen b2; rook h8; bishop b7; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/c7/g5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8+ — rook h8→e8, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen g6→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe8 (knight f6→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxb2 — knight d1→b2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/pbp5/1p3nQp/6p1/8/P6P/1qP2PP1/3NKB1R b K - 0 19

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.