Chess Puzzle #taDgO — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; knights e5/e6; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2. Black: king h7; queen e7; rooks d8/f8; knights d5/f5; pawns a7/b7/g6/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd8 — knight e6→d8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen e7→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
3. Best move: Qg5+ — queen h4→g5, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qh4+.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r2/pp2q2k/4N1pp/3nNn2/3P4/2P5/PPQ2P1K/R4R2 w - - 1 26

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