Chess Puzzle #Jc8A9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks a1/a7; bishop c2; pawns b3/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b5; rooks b6/c8; bishop b7; pawns c3/e4/e6/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen b5→e2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxb7 — rook a7→b7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxb7 (rook b6→b7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen e5→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook b7→f7).
4. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen e6→c8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/Rb4pp/1r2p3/1q2Qp2/3Pp3/1Pp1P3/2B2PPP/R5K1 b - - 9 29

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