Chess Puzzle #1tS3B — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 978 · Beginner · advantage, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king e2; queen e3; bishop c6; pawns a3/b4/f5. Black: king g8; rook c8; bishop f6; knight g5; pawns a6/b5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc6 — rook c8→c6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e3→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  3. Best move: Qxc6 — queen e8→c6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, short. The key move is Qe8+.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5pp1/p1B2b1p/1p3Pn1/1P6/P3Q3/4K3/8 b - - 0 36

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.