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

Rating 1876 · Advanced · crushing, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rooks d1/f1; knight d4; pawns a3/b4/c3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen c7; rooks d5/f8; bishop g7; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h7→h5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f1→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen h3→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e7→f8).
  4. Best move: Qxd5 — queen e6→d5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/2q1kpbp/p3p1p1/1p1rP3/1P1N4/P1P4Q/6PP/3R1R1K b - - 2 23

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

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.