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

Position

White: king f1; queen c5; rook a1; bishop e4; pawns a5/b2/c3/f2/g3. Black: king g8; queen h2; rooks f8/h8; pawns a6/b7/e6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg3 — queen h2→g3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen c5→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: fxg3 — pawn f2→g3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, short. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rkr/1p6/p3p3/P1Q5/4B3/2P3P1/1P3P1q/R4K2 b - - 4 34

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