Chess Puzzle #3zxjp — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1407 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops d2/e2; knights c3/f3; pawns a3/b4/c2/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen e7; rooks d8/h8; bishops d6/f5; knights c6/g4; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg4 — pawn h3→g4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: hxg4 — pawn h5→g4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxh8 (rook h1→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxh8 — rook d8→h8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move hxg4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/ppp1qpp1/2nb4/5b1p/1P4n1/P1N1PN1P/2PBBPP1/R2QK2R w KQ - 1 12

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.