Chess Puzzle #4rSuY — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen d2; rooks b1/h1; bishop g2; knight c3; pawns a2/b3/e5/f4/g4/h2. Black: king e7; queen b4; rooks b8/h8; bishop c8; knight c5; pawns c6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ra8 — rook b8→a8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxd5+ — knight c3→d5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies cxd5 (pawn c6→d5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxb4 — queen d2→b4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, master, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Nxd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1rb4r/4kppp/2p1p3/2npP3/1q3PP1/1PN5/P2Q2BP/KR5R b - - 0 20

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