Chess Puzzle #AOCsM — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rooks e1/f1; bishop h5; knight g5; pawns c4/g2/h3. Black: king e7; queen d3; rooks a8/e8; bishops e6/f6; knight c5; pawns d6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf6 — rook f1→f6, captures bishop. Opponent replies hxg5 (pawn h6→g5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f6→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e7→d8).
4. Best move: Qxg5+ — queen h4→g5, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Rxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r3/4kp1p/3pbb2/2n3NB/2P4Q/3q3P/6P1/4RR1K b - - 3 30

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