Chess Puzzle #3sVNI — Expert, Black to move, endgame

Rating 2134 · Expert · advantage, defensive move, endgame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rook e1; knight e5; pawns f2/g3. Black: king c7; queen c3; rook d6; knight c5; pawns a5/e6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf7+ — queen f4→f7, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rd7 — rook d6→d7. Opponent replies Nxd7 (knight e5→d7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen c3→e1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, endgame, short. The key move Qxe1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/2k5/3rp3/p1n1N3/5Q2/2q3P1/5P2/4R1K1 w - - 2 43

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.