Chess Puzzle #AkvX4 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1461 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks a1/f2; bishop d3; knight g3; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; knight f7; pawns a7/b6/c5/e5/e6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg5 — queen d8→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f2→f7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxg5 — queen e3→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2q1r2/p2b1nkp/1p2p1p1/2pPp3/2P1P3/3BQ1NP/PP3RP1/R5K1 b - - 1 23

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.