Chess Puzzle #kRsPb — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1849 · Advanced · equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishops c4/f4; pawns a2/c2/e5/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf4 — rook f8→f4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxd5+ — bishop c4→d5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies cxd5 (pawn c6→d5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxf4 — queen d2→f4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Bxd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp2q1pp/2p5/3nP3/2B2B1P/8/P1PQ2P1/R3K2R b KQ - 4 17

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.