Chess Puzzle #DjGiC — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h6; rook f1; bishop e2; knight c5; pawns b2/b4/g2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook f8; bishops c6/h2; pawns e6/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be5 — bishop h2→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen h6→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight c5→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
4. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e6→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/2q2p2/2b1p1pQ/2N5/1P6/8/1P2B1Pb/5R1K b - - 0 26

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