Chess Puzzle #lv6VE — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2437 · Master · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f4; rooks d1/f1; pawns a2/b2/c4/e4/f3/g3. Black: king b7; queen c5; rooks f8/g6; knight g4; pawns b6/f7/h3/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne3 — knight g4→e3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: b4 — pawn b2→b4. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen c5→c4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qxe3 — queen f4→e3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is b4.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/1k3p2/1p4r1/2q4p/2P1PQn1/5PPp/PP6/3R1R1K b - - 2 29

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.