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

Rating 2027 · Expert · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks a1/b1; knight h3; pawns c4/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a6/b4/d6/e5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a5 — pawn a6→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd5+ — queen d2→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop c8→e6).
  3. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen d5→e6, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/6p1/pq1p3p/4p3/1pP1P3/7N/3Q2PP/RR5K b - - 1 25

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.