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

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks b7/h1; bishop a4; knight d2; pawns a2/e5/f2/f3/h2. Black: king e8; queen c3; rooks a8/h8; bishops d7/f8; pawns a7/c5/d5/e6/f7/h6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxd7+ — bishop a4→d7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook d8→d7, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qa4 — queen d1→a4. Opponent replies Qxe5+ (queen c3→e5, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Ne4 — knight d2→e4.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Bxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/pR1b1p1p/4p2p/2ppP3/B7/2q2P2/P2N1P1P/3QK2R b Kkq - 0 13

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