Chess Puzzle #7V5TV — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen g2; rooks d3/g1; bishop c4; pawns a2/c2/c3/d4/f2/f5/h2. Black: king f8; queen h7; rooks a8/f4; bishops d6/d7; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Na5 — knight c6→a5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh3 — rook d3→h3. Opponent replies Bc6 (bishop d7→c6).
3. Best move: d5 — pawn d4→d5. Opponent replies Bxd5 (bishop c6→d5, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Bxd5 — bishop c4→d5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Rh3.

Position data

FEN: r4k2/pppb3q/2nbp3/5P2/2BP1r2/2PR4/P1P2PQP/1K4R1 b - - 4 22

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