Chess Puzzle #3o2V7 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2148 · Expert · advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b1; rooks b4/f1; bishops c2/h2; knights e2/f3; pawns a2/d4/d6/e3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks c8/e8; bishops b7/g7; knights d7/e4; pawns a6/b5/f7/g5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight f3→e5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe2 — queen h5→e2, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxe4 (bishop c2→e4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen e2→e3, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/1b1n1pb1/p2P3p/1p4pq/1R1Pn3/4PN1P/P1B1N1PB/1Q3RK1 w - - 2 27

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.