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

Rating 2702 · Master · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks d1/f1; bishops d3/e3; pawns a2/b2/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishops d7/f6; pawns a7/b7/e6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd4 — bishop f6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook a8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Bxd4 — bishop e3→d4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxd4+ (queen b6→d4, captures bishop, gives check).
  5. Best move: Rxd4 — rook d1→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp1b2p1/1q2pb1p/8/3P4/3BB1Q1/PP4PP/3R1RK1 b - - 3 20

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

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.