Chess Puzzle #0wefi — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen b6; rooks a1/f2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e5/g2/h3. Black: king e7; queen h4; rooks d7/g8; bishop e4; pawns a6/b5/d5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh3 — queen h4→h3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc5+ — queen b6→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e7→d8).
  3. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f2→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook g8→f8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen c5→f8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6r1/3rk3/pQ6/1p1pP3/3Pb2q/2P4P/PP3RP1/R5K1 b - - 8 28

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.