Chess Puzzle #8s4W7 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2238 · Expert · crushing, deflection, endgame, intermezzo, long, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rook d1; bishop b4; pawns a5/d6/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen c8; rook c1; bishop b5; pawns a6/b7/e4/f5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h3 — pawn h2→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc4 — queen c8→c4. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen b3→c4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook c1→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
  4. Best move: Bxc4 — bishop b5→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, intermezzo, long, sacrifice. The key move Rxd1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2q5/1p4pk/p2P3p/Pb2Pp2/1B2pP2/1Q6/6PP/2rR2K1 w - - 1 32

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.