Chess Puzzle #IZePD — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks c3/f1; pawns a2/e4/f2/g2/h4. Black: king d7; queen h8; rook a8; bishop c8; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg8 — queen h8→g8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc7+ — rook c3→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc7 (king d7→c7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen f7→e7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kb6 (king c7→b6).
4. Best move: Qxd6+ — queen e7→d6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b4q/pppknQ2/3p1p1p/8/4P2P/2R5/P4PP1/5RK1 b - - 0 21

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