Chess Puzzle #0VQ6X — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1281 · Intermediate · attraction, crushing, endgame, long, sacrifice, skewer.

Position

White: king e4; rook e1; knight e5; pawns a2/b3/d4/f3/h5. Black: king h7; rooks c8/e8; pawns a6/b5/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d5 — pawn d4→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe5+ — rook e8→e5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe5 (king e4→e5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Re8+ — rook c8→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king e5→f5).
  4. Best move: Rxe1 — rook e8→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, endgame, long, sacrifice, skewer. The key move Rxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r3/6pk/p7/1p2N2P/3PK3/1P3P2/P7/4R3 w - - 1 40

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.