Chess Puzzle #5LbL8 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e4; rooks a1/h1; bishop d4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/c8; knight g8; pawns a6/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rb8 — rook a8→b8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc6+ — queen e4→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Bd7 (bishop c8→d7).
3. Best move: Qxc5 — queen c6→c5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen a5→c5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bxc5 — bishop d4→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Qc6+.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k1nr/5p1p/p3p1p1/q1b1P3/3BQ3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R3K2R b KQkq - 1 14

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