Chess Puzzle #5RpKy — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f4; rook g1; bishop e7; pawns a2/b3/g5/h3. Black: king g8; rook d2; bishop f3; pawns a5/b7/e4/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa2 — rook d2→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc1 — rook g1→c1. Opponent replies f5 (pawn f7→f5).
3. Best move: gxf6 — pawn g5→f6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
4. Best move: Ke5 — king f4→e5.

Tactical themes

advantage, en passant, endgame, long, quiet move. The key move is Rc1.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1p2Bp1p/6p1/p5P1/4pK2/1P3b1P/P2r4/6R1 b - - 0 31

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