Chess Puzzle #7RTMw — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rook e1; bishop c2; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/f2/f3/h3. Black: king d7; rook h8; bishop d6; pawns a5/b7/c5/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook h8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ba4+ — bishop c2→a4, gives check. Opponent replies c6 (pawn c7→c6).
3. Best move: dxc6+ — pawn d5→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b7→c6, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Bxc6+ — bishop a4→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc6 (king d7→c6, captures bishop).
5. Best move: Rxe8 — rook e1→e8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, endgame, very long. The key move dxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7r/1ppk1ppp/3b4/p1pP4/2P5/5P1P/PPB2P2/4R1K1 b - - 0 21

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