Chess Puzzle #aFQV3 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2565 · Master · advantage, exposed king, long, middlegame, quiet move.

Position

White: king h2; rooks a1/g5; bishop a2; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e4/f3. Black: king h7; rooks a8/f8; bishop c5; knight f2; pawns a5/b7/c6/d6/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh8 — rook f8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rag1 — rook a1→g1. Opponent replies Be3 (bishop c5→e3).
  3. Best move: Rh5+ — rook g5→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop e3→h6).
  4. Best move: Bxf7 — bishop a2→f7, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Rag1.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/1p3p1k/2pp4/p1b1p1R1/4P3/P2P1P2/BPP2n1K/R7 b - - 3 22

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

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.