Chess Puzzle #15TPC — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1073 · Beginner · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks c1/c6; bishop e4; pawns a4/b5/e5/f2/g2. Black: king b8; queen d8; rooks d4/f8; bishop b7; pawns a5/b6/e6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd1+ — rook d4→d1, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd1 — rook c1→d1, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd1+ (queen d8→d1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Rxd1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1k1q1r2/1b3p2/1pR1p1p1/pP2P2p/P2rB3/4Q3/5PP1/2R3K1 b - - 7 30

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.