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

Position

White: king f1; queen g5; rook d1; knight f3; pawns a3/b3/d6/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen g7; rooks d7/d8; pawns a5/b6/c5/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd6 — rook d7→d6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen g5→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook d6→d8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen g7→f8).
4. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook d8→f8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, X-ray attack. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/3r1pq1/1p1P2p1/p1p3Qp/7P/PP3N2/5PP1/3R1K2 b - - 0 27

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