Chess Puzzle #0TMQ6 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rooks f2/f3; knight c3; pawns a4/d4/e5/g2/g5/h3. Black: king g7; queen e7; rooks b3/f8; bishop a6; knight d7; pawns d5/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rh8 — rook f8→h8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf7 (queen e7→f7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f2→f7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g7→f7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxh8 — queen h4→h8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/3nqpk1/b3p1p1/3pP1P1/P2P3Q/1rN2R1P/5RP1/7K b - - 2 36

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