Chess Puzzle #8LtIx — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1725 · Advanced · equality, fork, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops b2/f5; pawns a2/c2/c4/f3/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/e6; bishop h5; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c5/c7/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e6→e5, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxe5 (bishop b2→e5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qe3+ — queen g5→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  4. Best move: Qxe5 — queen e3→e5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Rxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/ppp2pp1/4r2p/2p1nBqb/2P3P1/5P2/PBP4P/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 18

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.