Chess Puzzle #3X1sf — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1309 · Intermediate · attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, long, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g2; queen d3; rook a1; pawns a3/b4/c4/d5/e4/f2/g3. Black: king c8; queen h8; knight g4; pawns b6/b7/c7/d6/e5/f6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh1 — rook a1→h1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh1+ — queen h8→h1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh1 (king g2→h1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxf2+ — knight g4→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h1→g2).
  4. Best move: Nxd3 — knight f2→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, long, sacrifice. The key move Qxh1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k4q/1pp5/1p1p1p2/3Pp3/1PP1P1n1/P2Q2P1/5PK1/R7 w - - 0 30

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.