Chess Puzzle #Md1rf — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen c4; rooks c1/g1; bishop b2; pawns a2/b4/e3/f2. Black: king b7; queen f5; rooks d5/h8; bishop c5; pawns a7/c6/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxe3 — bishop c5→e3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen c4→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king b7→b8).
3. Best move: Qxc7+ — queen c6→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
4. Best move: Qc6+ — queen c7→c6, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7r/pkp2ppp/2p5/2br1q2/1PQ5/4P3/PB3P2/2R2KR1 b - - 0 22

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