Chess Puzzle #2TcLi — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks e1/e2; bishop f5; pawns a2/b4/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d7; queen d6; rooks a8/e8; knight f6; pawns a7/b5/c6/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exf5 — pawn e6→f5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen b3→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d7→c8).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e2→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, master, middlegame, short. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r3/p2k2pp/2pqpn2/1p3B2/1P1P4/1Q6/P3RPPP/4R1K1 b - - 2 22

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