Chess Puzzle #y3X1Q — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2261 · Expert · attraction, equality, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king d1; queen e2; rook f1; bishop c6; pawns c2/d3/e5/g3/h2. Black: king f8; queen b4; rooks b8/h8; bishop f7; pawns a7/c7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen b4→c3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f1→f7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king f8→f7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen e2→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king f7→f8).
  4. Best move: Qf5+ — queen h5→f5, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1r3k1r/p1p2bpp/2B5/4P3/1q6/3P2P1/2P1Q2P/3K1R2 b - - 5 24

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.