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

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks e4/f1; bishop c4; pawns b3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h6; queen c5; rooks d2/f6; knight h5; pawns a6/c6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rdxf2 — rook d2→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe3+ — queen h3→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe3 (queen c5→e3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe3 — rook e4→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Qe3+.

Position data

FEN: 8/7p/p1p2rpk/2q4n/2B1R3/1P5Q/3r1PPP/5RK1 b - - 5 35

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