Chess Puzzle #4iiM0 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen g5; rooks d1/f6; bishop b2; knight c3; pawns a4/d2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c4; rooks d3/d8; bishop d6; pawns a5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe6 — rook f6→e6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc3+ — rook d3→c3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies dxc3 (pawn d2→c3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Bf4+ — bishop d6→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Re3 (rook e6→e3).
4. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook d8→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd1 (king c1→d1, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxa4+ — queen c4→a4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king d1→e1).
6. Best move: Bxg5 — bishop f4→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, discovered attack, fork, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/5ppp/3bpR2/p5Q1/P1q5/2Nr4/1B1P2PP/2KR4 w - - 0 25

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