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

Position

White: king g1; queen a2; rooks a1/a4; knight f7; pawns b3/c4/d3/e5/f4/g4/h2. Black: king b6; queen c6; rooks a8/f8; knight g2; pawns a5/b4/c5/d4/e6/g6/h3. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxa5 — rook a4→a5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxf4 (knight g2→f4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rxa8 — rook a5→a8, captures rook. Opponent replies Ne2+ (knight f4→e2, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxe2 — queen a2→e2, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxa8 (queen c6→a8, captures rook).
5. Best move: Rxa8 — rook a1→a8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, master, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxa5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/5N2/1kq1p1p1/p1p1P3/RpPp1PP1/1P1P3p/Q5nP/R5K1 b - - 2 34

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