Chess Puzzle #JI4bm — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g3; rooks d2/g4; pawns a2/b3/c4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen f1; rook f7; knight d3; pawns a6/b7/c6/d5/e4/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf2 — knight d3→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf2 — rook d2→f2, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxf2 (queen f1→f2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook g4→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg7 (rook f7→g7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxf2 — queen g3→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, long. The key move Rxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/1p3rpk/p1p4p/3p4/2P1p1R1/1P1n2QP/P2R1PPK/5q2 b - - 4 40

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