Chess Puzzle #4MH36 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen d6; rooks b1/h1; bishop c2; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/c4/e3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e8; rooks a8/f8; bishop h6; knight f2; pawns a7/b7/f6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxf2 — king g2→f2, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen e8→e3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king f2→g2).
3. Best move: Qe2+ — queen e3→e2, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3qrk1/pp5p/3Q1ppb/8/2P5/1P2PN2/P1B2nKP/1R5R w - - 0 21

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