Chess Puzzle #1v0vs — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2266 · Expert · advantage, exposed king, interference, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks c1/f1; bishop h1; knight e2; pawns a2/b3/d4/f4/f6/g4/h3. Black: king h8; queen d6; rooks a8/g6; knights c6/h4; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6/f7/g5/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg5 — pawn f4→g5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nf4 (knight e2→f4).
  3. Best move: Nhf3+ — knight h4→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf3 (bishop h1→f3, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxf4 — queen d6→f4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, interference, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Nxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r6k/5p1p/p1nqpPr1/1p1p2pQ/3P1PPn/1P5P/P3N3/2R2RKB w - - 3 25

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.