Chess Puzzle #yb8dr — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2436 · Master · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/g1; bishops b2/c4; knight f6; pawns a2/f2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/d6; pawns a7/b5/e5/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf6 — pawn g7→f6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd2 — queen c2→d2. Opponent replies Bb4 (bishop d6→b4).
  3. Best move: Qxb4 — queen d2→b4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook f8→g8).
  4. Best move: Rxg8+ — rook g1→g8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Rxg8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r1k/p1q2pp1/3b1N2/1p2p3/2B5/8/PBQ2P1P/R3K1R1 b Q - 0 21

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.