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

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishops e5/f1; pawns a2/b2/c3/e3/f3/g2/h4. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks c8/h8; bishop f8; knight h7; pawns a7/b7/d5/f5/f7/g7/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen d2→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen b6→e3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e1→d1).
3. Best move: Rd8 — rook c8→d8. Opponent replies Bb5+ (bishop f1→b5, gives check).
4. Best move: Ke7 — king e8→e7. Opponent replies Qxd8+ (queen d5→d8, captures rook, gives check).
5. Best move: Kxd8 — king e7→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Qxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1kb1r/pp3ppn/1q6/3pBp1p/7P/2P1PP2/PP1Q2P1/R3KB1R w KQk - 0 17

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.