Chess Puzzle #25kX5 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1400 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; rooks d1/f1; bishop g5; knights c3/h4; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5. Black: king g8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights b8/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h2/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight f6→g4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king f8→f7).
  4. Best move: Rxc8 — rook d8→c8, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnb2rk1/ppp3pp/5n2/4P1B1/7N/2N5/PPP4p/3R1R1K b - - 0 15

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.