Chess Puzzle #0Tsyg — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1866 · Advanced · crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king d1; queen e2; rooks a2/h1; bishops e3/f1; knight b3; pawns a3/b4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks a8/f8; bishops c3/c8; pawns a5/c6/d5/e6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc2 — queen e2→c2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen f5→f1, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook h1→f1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf1+ — rook f8→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king d1→e2).
  4. Best move: Ba6+ — bishop c8→a6, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/6pp/2p1p3/p2p1q2/1P6/PNb1B3/R3Q1PP/3K1B1R w - - 0 20

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.