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

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rook e1; bishop d4; pawns c2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rook c3; knight f6; pawns d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc2 — rook c3→c2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg3 — queen f2→g3. Opponent replies Rxg2+ (rook c2→g2, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxg2 — queen g3→g2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move is Qg3.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5ppp/5n2/3p4/3B4/2r2P2/q1P2QPP/4R1K1 b - - 1 23

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