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

Rating 2385 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, pin, very long.

Position

White: king e4; queen d8; rooks d1/h1; bishops a8/e3; pawns b2/c3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a4; rook c8; bishops c4/g7; pawns a7/b5/e7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook c8→d8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
  3. Best move: Bh6 — bishop e3→h6. Opponent replies Qc2+ (queen a4→c2, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kf4 — king e4→f4. Opponent replies Qd2+ (queen c2→d2, gives check).
  5. Best move: Rxd2 — rook d8→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: B1rQ2k1/p3ppbp/6p1/1p6/q1b1K3/2P1BP2/1P4PP/3R3R b - - 13 24

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.