Chess Puzzle #3ImAW — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1445 · Intermediate · advantage, hanging piece, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks f1/f2; bishops b2/c4; pawns a5/e4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks a8/f8; bishop a7; knight f7; pawns b7/c7/d4/e5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f2→f7, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc4 — queen b4→c4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxf8+ (rook f7→f8, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxf8 — rook a8→f8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxf8+ (rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxf8 — king g8→f8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/bpp2np1/7p/P3p2Q/1qBpP3/6P1/1B3R1P/5R1K w - - 0 34

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.