Chess Puzzle #1HMYZ — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g2; rooks a1/e1; bishop d4; knight e6; pawns a2/b3/c3/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks e8/f8; bishops a6/d6; pawns a7/c6/d5/f5/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf8 — knight e6→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen e7→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook a1→e1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
4. Best move: Re2+ — rook e1→e2, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/p3q3/b1pbN1pp/3p1p2/3B4/1PP3P1/P5QP/R3R1K1 w - - 2 28

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.