Chess Puzzle #0dkys — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1071 · Beginner · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g2; queen g4; rooks a1/h1; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h5; bishop d6; pawns a6/b7/c7/d5/e4/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg5 — rook h5→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h1→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen e7→f8).
  3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook h8→f8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop d6→f8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxg5 — queen g4→g5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k3/1pp1qp2/p2b2p1/3p3r/3Pp1Q1/4P3/PP1N1PK1/R6R b q - 5 21

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.