Chess Puzzle #74PKa — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks c1/f1; pawns a4/b5/f3/g3/h2. Black: king b8; queen d3; rooks d8/h8; pawns a7/b7/e5/f6/f7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf7 — queen c4→f7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe3+ — queen d3→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook h8→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king h1→h2, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rh8+ — rook d8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h2→g2).
5. Best move: Qd2+ — queen e3→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Rf2 (rook f1→f2).
6. Best move: Qxc1 — queen d2→c1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, endgame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxh2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/pp3p2/5p2/1P2p3/P1Q5/3q1PP1/7P/2R2RK1 w - - 0 22

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