Chess Puzzle #JvBrQ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f3; queen c4; rooks g4/h1; knight c3; pawns a4/b2/d5/f2/f4/h3. Black: king h8; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; bishop b4; pawns a7/b7/c5/g5/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf4+ — rook f8→f4, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf4 — queen c4→f4, captures rook. Opponent replies gxf4 (pawn g5→f4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxh4 — rook g4→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, master, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/pp5p/8/2pP2p1/PbQ2PRq/2N2K1P/1P3P2/7R b - - 0 23

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