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

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rook c1; knight e6; pawns a3/d4/f2/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rook f8; knight b2; pawns a6/b5/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe5 — queen e4→e5. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rc7 — rook c1→c7. Opponent replies Qxc7 (queen a5→c7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc7 — queen e5→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long, sacrifice. The key move is Qe5.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5p1p/p3N1p1/qp6/3PQ3/P5P1/1n3PP1/2R3K1 b - - 0 23

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