Chess Puzzle #T1FeE — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f2; rook f6; bishop d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/h3. Black: king h8; queen d5; rook g8; knight g6; pawns a6/b5/c5/d4/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen d5→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: c4 — pawn c3→c4. Opponent replies Qxb2 (queen a2→b2, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rf7 — rook f6→f7. Opponent replies Rg7 (rook g8→g7).
4. Best move: Rxg7 — rook f7→g7, captures rook. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king h8→g7, captures rook).
5. Best move: Bh6+ — bishop d2→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh6 (king g7→h6, captures bishop).
6. Best move: Qxb2 — queen f2→b2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, endgame, very long. The key move is c4.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/7p/p4Rn1/1ppq4/3p4/2PP3P/PP1B1Q1K/8 b - - 10 35

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