Chess Puzzle #8iv79 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook e1; bishops d3/f4; pawns a3/b2/f2/g3. Black: king g8; queen h5; rook e8; bishops f6/h3; pawns a7/b7/d4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf3 — queen h5→f3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
3. Best move: Be4 — bishop d3→e4.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/pp4pp/5b2/7q/3p1B2/P2B2Pb/1P1Q1P2/4R1K1 b - - 1 23

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