Chess Puzzle #Fx7C1 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a8; rook f1; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/g2/g5/h2. Black: king e8; queen d7; rook h8; knight g8; pawns a6/b5/c3/c7/d6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke7 — king e8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: exd6+ — pawn e5→d6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd6 (queen d7→d6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Re1+ — rook f1→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Qe6 (queen d6→e6).
4. Best move: Rxe6+ — rook e1→e6, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move exd6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: Q3k1nr/2pq1p2/p2p2p1/1p2P1P1/8/2p5/PPP3PP/5RK1 b k - 1 20

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