Chess Puzzle #YKPgC — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen b2; rooks e1/h1; bishop g2; knight a3; pawns a2/b3/c4/f2/f5/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks e8/f8; bishop d6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nb5 — knight a3→b5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe1 (king f1→e1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Re8+ — rook f8→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king e1→d2).
4. Best move: Re2+ — rook e8→e2, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/pp4pp/3b4/2p2P1q/2Pp4/NP4P1/PQ3PBP/4RK1R w - - 1 21

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