Chess Puzzle #9OBpm — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/f1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/f3/g3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/d8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd4 — rook d8→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxh7+ — bishop d3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh7 (knight f6→h7, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d1→d4, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxg3+ (queen c7→g3, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: fxg3 — pawn f2→g3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, long, middlegame. The key move Bxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/ppq2ppp/5n2/2p5/3P4/3B1PP1/PP3P2/2RQ1RK1 b - - 0 18

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