Chess Puzzle #5ENhs — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen d1; rooks b1/h1; knights c4/d4; pawns a3/e3/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen a5; rooks b8/h8; bishop b7; knight g8; pawns a6/c6/d5/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxc4 — pawn d5→c4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxb7+ — rook b1→b7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxb7 (rook b8→b7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nxc6+ — knight d4→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king e7→e8).
4. Best move: Nxa5 — knight c6→a5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxb7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r4nr/1b2k1pp/p1p1p3/q2p4/2NN4/P3P3/4K1PP/1R1Q3R b - - 3 21

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