Chess Puzzle #KxA9T — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; rook c1; bishop e6; pawns a3/d7/g3/h2. Black: king f8; rooks b2/b8; pawns a5/d4/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke7 — king f8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8 — rook c1→c8. Opponent replies Kxe6 (king e7→e6, captures bishop).
3. Best move: d8=Q — pawn d7→d8, promotes to queen. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook b8→c8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen d8→c8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, endgame, long, promotion. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r3k2/3P2p1/4B2p/p7/3p4/P5P1/1r5P/2RK4 b - - 0 30

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