Chess Puzzle #rULpO — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rook f7; bishop c4; pawns a2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king d7; queen e4; rook a8; bishop b6; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kc6 — king d7→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen d1→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Kd6 (king c6→d6).
3. Best move: Rd7+ — rook f7→d7, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move is Qa4+.

Position data

FEN: r7/pppk1Rpp/1b6/8/2Bnq3/2P5/P5PP/3Q3K b - - 0 23

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