Chess Puzzle #8ynzW — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks a1/f1; knight f5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop h2; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be5 — bishop h2→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nh6+ — knight f5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rf1+ — rook a1→f1, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/ppq3pp/8/2p2N1Q/3p4/3P3P/PPP3Pb/R4R1K b - - 1 18

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