Chess Puzzle #25JxX — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1196 · Beginner · crushing, deflection, endgame, fork, long.

Position

White: king f2; queen e3; bishop g4; pawns b4/c3/d4/g2. Black: king g7; queen h2; bishop d5; pawns b5/e4/e6/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg3 — queen e3→g3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: e3+ — pawn e4→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe3 (queen g3→e3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qxg2+ — queen h2→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f2→e1).
  4. Best move: Qxg4 — queen g2→g4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, fork, long. The key move Qxg2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/6k1/4p1p1/1p1b4/1P1Pp1B1/2P1Q3/5KPq/8 w - - 9 38

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.