Chess Puzzle #38yGB — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks c3/e1; knight e6; pawns a3/b2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks c8/e8; knight d5; pawns a6/b5/c4/f6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe6 — rook e8→e6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf5+ — queen f3→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
3. Best move: Qxe6 — queen f5→e6, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxc3 (knight d5→c3, captures rook).
4. Best move: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qf5+.

Position data

FEN: 2rqr3/6pk/p3Np1p/1p1n4/2pP4/P1R1PQ2/1P3PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 26

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