Chess Puzzle #1ry9x — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen b3; rooks c1/d1; bishop g3; pawns a2/b2/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen h5; rooks f6/g5; bishop d6; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight e5→g4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxd6 — rook d1→d6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxf2+ (knight g4→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Kh2 — king h1→h2. Opponent replies Rxd6 (rook f6→d6, captures rook).
4. Best move: Bxd6 — bishop g3→d6, captures rook. Opponent replies Qg6 (queen h5→g6).
5. Best move: Rxc7+ — rook c1→c7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, very long. The key move Rxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k5/ppp4p/3b1r2/4n1rq/8/1Q2P1BP/PP3PP1/2RR3K b - - 5 29

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.