Chess Puzzle #22QXr — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1541 · Intermediate · advantage, discovered attack, discovered check, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king e1; rooks d3/e7; pawns b3/e6/f5/g3/h4. Black: king c6; rook a2; knights a3/c3; pawns a7/b4/d4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd4 — rook d3→d4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc2+ — knight a3→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king e1→d2).
  3. Best move: Nxd4+ — knight c2→d4, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, discovered check, endgame, fork, short. The key move Nxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/p3R3/2k1P3/5P2/1p1p3P/nPnR2P1/r7/4K3 w - - 0 45

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.