Chess Puzzle #1s3eD — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen e8; rooks d1/e7; bishop c4; pawns a2/b2/c5/f2/h5. Black: king h8; queen h2; rook f8; bishop g7; knight f3; pawns a7/b7/c6/d4/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe8 — rook f8→e8, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e7→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook e8→f8, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, master, middlegame, short. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4Qr1k/pp2R1bp/2p3p1/2P4P/2Bp4/5n2/PP3P1q/3R1K2 b - - 6 35

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