Chess Puzzle #0HkMf — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1522 · Intermediate · advantage, discovered attack, long, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks c1/d4; knight g3; pawns a2/b2/e4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen c7; rooks e8/h8; bishop e7; pawns a7/b7/e6/f5/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc5 — bishop e7→c5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc5 — rook c1→c5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen c7→c5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook e8→d8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxc5 — queen e3→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, long, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice. The key move Rxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1k2r2r/ppq1b3/4p1pp/5p2/3RPP2/4Q1N1/PP4PP/2R3K1 b - - 2 22

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.