Chess Puzzle #6Alba — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks b1/g3; bishop a3; knight c4; pawns a5/c2/d3/f2/f3/h2. Black: king c7; queen h3; rooks d8/h8; bishop f6; knight c3; pawns a6/b7/d4/e6/g5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh4 — queen h3→h4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe6 — queen e2→e6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rde8 (rook d8→e8).
3. Best move: Rxb7+ — rook b1→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb7 (king c7→b7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Nd6+ — knight c4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king b7→c7).
5. Best move: Nxe8+ — knight d6→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook h8→e8, captures knight).
6. Best move: Qxe8 — queen e6→e8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxb7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r3r/1pk5/p3pb1p/P5p1/2Np4/B1nP1PRq/2P1QP1P/1R2K3 b - - 5 26

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