Chess Puzzle #CL0FU — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1417 · Intermediate · attraction, crushing, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/d1; bishop e3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen e5; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf5 — knight e7→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd8 (king c8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bg5+ — bishop e3→g5, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1b1r/ppp1nppp/8/4q3/8/2N1B3/PPP1QPPP/R2R2K1 b - - 3 12

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

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.