Chess Puzzle #56BqX — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1140 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, short.

Position

White: king b1; rook b4; knight e6; pawns a2/b3/f3/h2. Black: king g8; rook c3; knight f6; pawns a3/d5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf3 — rook c3→f3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rb8+ — rook b4→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: Ng5+ — knight e6→g5, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move is Rb8+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/6pp/4Nn2/3p4/1R6/pPr2P2/P6P/1K6 b - - 0 38

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

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