Chess Puzzle #1ACEZ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 771 · Beginner · advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rooks e1/e2; bishop h4; pawns a2/c2/c3/f4/f5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks a8/e8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight f6→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e2→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen c6→e8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxd5 — queen d3→d5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/ppp2pp1/2qp1n1p/5P2/5P1B/2PQ3P/P1P1R1P1/4R2K b - - 2 25

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.