Chess Puzzle #1lXYn — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1473 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen b1; rooks c5/d1; knights e4/g5; pawns a4/b4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks d8/e8; bishops c8/e5; pawns a6/c6/d4/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd7 — queen e6→d7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe5 — rook c5→e5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxe5 (rook e8→e5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  4. Best move: Nxd7 — knight f6→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2brr1k1/5p1p/p1p1q1p1/2R1b1N1/PP1pN3/7P/5PP1/1Q1R2K1 b - - 5 28

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.