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

Position

White: king f2; queen c8; bishop d4; knight f3; pawns a2/e5/g2. Black: king e8; queen e4; rooks d7/h8; bishop f8; pawns a7/d5/f5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 10 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke7 — king e8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bc5+ — bishop d4→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king e7→e6).
3. Best move: Qc6+ — queen c8→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Bd6 (bishop f8→d6).
4. Best move: Bxd6 — bishop c5→d6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Bc5+.

Position data

FEN: 2Q1kb1r/p2r1ppp/8/3pPp2/3Bq3/5N2/P4KP1/8 b k - 5 23

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