Chess Puzzle #4yQzl — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1060 · Beginner · crushing, intermezzo, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks a1/f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; knight f7; pawns a6/b7/c6/e7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen c7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f1→f7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g7→f7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen d4→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Rxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/1pq1pnkp/p1p3p1/4P3/3QP3/2N4P/PPP3P1/R4RK1 b - - 0 18

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.