Chess Puzzle #lQY1y — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2014 · Expert · equality, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a5; rooks e1/e2; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king b8; queen d5; rooks d8/g8; bishops c8/h6; knight f8; pawns a7/e6/h5/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb5+ — queen a5→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
  3. Best move: Qc6+ — queen b5→c6, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move is Qb5+.

Position data

FEN: 1kbr1nr1/p6p/4p2b/Q1Nq3p/3P4/6P1/PPP1RP1P/4R1K1 b - - 0 24

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.