Chess Puzzle #Sxcl7 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c2; queen f7; rook e1; bishop c3; knight b3; pawns b2/f3/g4/h4. Black: king h8; queen a2; rooks a8/b8; knight c7; pawns f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nb5 — knight c7→b5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re7 — rook e1→e7. Opponent replies Qxb3+ (queen a2→b3, captures knight, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxb3 — queen f7→b3, captures queen. Opponent replies Nd4+ (knight b5→d4, gives check).
4. Best move: Bxd4 — bishop c3→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxb3 (rook b8→b3, captures queen).
5. Best move: Kxb3 — king c2→b3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, quiet move, very long. The key move is Re7.

Position data

FEN: rr5k/2n2Qpp/5p2/8/6PP/1NB2P2/qPK5/4R3 b - - 4 33

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