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

Position

White: king f3; queen e1; rooks d1/f1; bishop b2; knight d3; pawns a4/b4/c5/e3/e4/g3. Black: king f8; queen h2; rooks d8/h8; bishop f6; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/c7/e5/f7/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rh1 — rook f1→h1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh1+ — queen h2→h1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh1 (queen e1→h1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxh1 — rook h8→h1, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxh1 (rook d1→h1, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxd3 — rook d8→d3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1k1r/1pp2pp1/p1n2b2/2P1p3/PP2P3/3NPKP1/1B5q/3RQR2 w - - 0 24

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