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

Position

White: king b2; rooks d6/f8; bishop c2; pawns a3/h6. Black: king h7; queen f2; bishop c6; pawns a4/b7/e4/f5/g3. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: g2 — pawn g3→g2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rf7+ — rook f8→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: h7+ — pawn h6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g8→f7, captures rook).
4. Best move: h8=Q — pawn h7→h8, promotes to queen. Opponent replies Qb6+ (queen f2→b6, gives check).
5. Best move: Ka2 — king b2→a2. Opponent replies Bd5+ (bishop c6→d5, gives check).
6. Best move: Rxd5 — rook d6→d5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qe6 (queen b6→e6).
7. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h8→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king f7→f6).
8. Best move: Qh6+ — queen h7→h6, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, deflection, endgame, exposed king, promotion, very long. The key move is Rf7+.

Position data

FEN: 5R2/1p5k/2bR3P/5p2/p3p3/P5p1/1KB2q2/8 b - - 0 51

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