Chess Puzzle #3rjJh — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks g1/g2; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/e4/f5/h3. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks b8/f8; bishop f6; pawns a6/b5/c5/d6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be5 — bishop f6→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook g2→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxg7 (bishop e5→g7, captures rook).
3. Best move: f6 — pawn f5→f6. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook f8→g8).
4. Best move: Qf5+ — queen f3→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
5. Best move: Ne7 — knight d5→e7. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen d8→e7, captures knight).
6. Best move: fxe7 — pawn f6→e7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, clearance, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r1q1r2/5ppk/p2p1b1p/1ppN1P2/4P3/P4Q1P/1P4R1/6RK b - - 0 22

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