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

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rook e1; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen e7; rook e6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f6 — pawn f7→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: exf6+ — pawn e5→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen e7→f6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxe6 — queen f5→e6, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxe6 (queen f6→e6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxe6 — rook e1→e6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move exf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/pp2qpk1/2p1r2p/3pPQp1/5P2/8/PPP3PP/4R1K1 b - - 0 25

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