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

Position

White: king d2; queen a7; rook b1; bishop e4; knight f3; pawns a2/c2/d3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook e8; bishops f6/g4; knight b8; pawns f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook e8→e4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxb8 — rook b1→b8, captures knight. Opponent replies Bc8 (bishop g4→c8).
3. Best move: Rxc8 — rook b8→c8, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxc8 (queen d8→c8, captures rook).
4. Best move: dxe4 — pawn d3→e4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Rxb8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1n1qr1k1/Q4ppp/5b2/8/4B1b1/3P1NP1/P1PK1P1P/1R6 b - - 6 18

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