Chess Puzzle #4sMf0 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/c4; bishop d3; pawns a2/b3/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f4; rooks a8/c8; bishop e6; pawns b4/d6/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb4 — rook c4→b4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rc1+ — rook c8→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook a1→c1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxc1+ — queen f4→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
4. Best move: Qc5+ — queen c1→c5, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/5pp1/3pb2p/4p3/1pR1Pq2/1P1B1P2/P3Q1PP/R5K1 w - - 1 24

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