Chess Puzzle #sohI6 — Advanced, White to move, opening

Rating 1957 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishops b3/f4; knight d2; pawns a3/b2/c3/d3/e4/f2/g2/g5. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/g7; knights c6/f6; pawns a6/b5/c5/d5/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nh7 — knight f6→h7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3 — queen f3→h3. Opponent replies Re8 (rook f8→e8).
  3. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h3→h7, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/1b3pb1/p1n1pnp1/1ppp2P1/4PB2/PBPP1Q2/1P1N1PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 0 14

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.