Chess Puzzle #p8kMB — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1974 · Advanced · equality, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king f2; rooks c6/d3; knight e4; pawns a2/c4/d5/g2/h2. Black: king e7; rook a8; bishops c8/e5; knight d7; pawns a6/c5/d6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd4+ — bishop e5→d4, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd4 — rook d3→d4, captures bishop. Opponent replies cxd4 (pawn c5→d4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nxd6 — knight e4→d6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rb8 (rook a8→b8).
  4. Best move: Nxc8+ — knight d6→c8, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move Nxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b5/3nkp2/p1Rp2p1/2pPb3/2P1N3/3R4/P4KPP/8 b - - 0 27

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.