Chess Puzzle #7Jdvy — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen a4; rooks a1/h1; bishops b5/c1; pawns b2/c3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops f8/g6; knights a6/d7; pawns c5/e7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc7 — knight a6→c7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen a4→a8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxa8 (knight c7→a8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxa8+ — rook a1→a8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen b6→d8).
4. Best move: Bxd7+ — bishop b5→d7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd7 (king e8→d7, captures bishop).
5. Best move: Rd1+ — rook h1→d1, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Qxa8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/3npppp/nq4b1/1Bp5/Q7/2P2P2/1P3KPP/R1B4R b kq - 1 19

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