Chess Puzzle #oFa4k — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2176 · Expert · advantage, discovered attack, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen b3; rooks e1/f5; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d3; rooks d8/f8; bishop e7; pawns a5/b5/c6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd2 — queen d3→d2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf7 — rook f5→f7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxe1+ (queen d2→e1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rf1+ — rook f7→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rd5 (rook d8→d5).
  4. Best move: Rxe1 — rook f1→e1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Rxf7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/4bppp/2p5/pp2NR2/4P3/1QPq3P/PP4P1/4R2K b - - 1 25

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.