Chess Puzzle #3iNqx — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen a8; rook f1; bishop c1; knight f3; pawns a2/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a1; rook f8; bishop c8; knight e2; pawns a7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ba6 — bishop c8→a6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen a8→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ba3+ — bishop c1→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
4. Best move: Rxa1 — rook f1→a1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, discovered attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: Q1b2rk1/p4ppp/4p3/8/2P5/5N2/P3nPPP/q1B2R1K b - - 0 19

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