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

Rating 2712 · Master · crushing, deflection, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/e1; bishops b2/g2; pawns a2/b5/c4/f2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks c8/f8; bishop g7; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c6/f4/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxb5 — pawn c6→b5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxe5 (bishop g7→e5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bd5 — bishop g2→d5. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen e6→d5, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen c2→g6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pp4b1/2p1q1pp/1P2n3/2P2p2/8/PBQ2PBP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 22

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.