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

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rook g2; bishop h4; pawns a2/b2/e5/h3. Black: king h8; queen d5; rook d6; knight d7; pawns b5/c5/f6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen d5→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg4 — queen f5→g4. Opponent replies Rd1+ (rook d6→d1, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxd1 — queen g4→d1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, short. The key move is Qg4.

Position data

FEN: 7k/3n3p/3r1p2/1ppqPQ2/7B/7P/PP4R1/7K b - - 2 35

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