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

Position

White: king c1; queen g4; rooks d1/e3; bishop c3; pawns a3/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks b8/c8; knight a4; pawns a5/e5/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxb2 — knight a4→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rd7 — rook d1→d7. Opponent replies Qxc3+ (queen c7→c3, captures bishop, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxc3 — rook e3→c3, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxc3+ (rook c8→c3, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Kd2 — king c1→d2.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Rd7.

Position data

FEN: 1rr3k1/2q3pp/5p2/p3p3/n5Q1/P1B1R3/1P3PPP/2KR4 b - - 6 25

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