Chess Puzzle #YWmn9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; rooks d1/d8; knight c4; pawns b3/f3/g4/h5. Black: king h8; rooks a8/e7; bishop f7; pawns b4/f6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook e7→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd6 — knight c4→d6. Opponent replies Bxb3 (bishop f7→b3, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Nxe8 — knight d6→e8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook a8→d8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxd8 — rook d1→d8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move is Nd6.

Position data

FEN: r2R3k/4rbp1/5p1p/7P/1pN3P1/1P3P2/5K2/3R4 b - - 2 36

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