Chess Puzzle #9ceSv — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1580 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, exposed king, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen h2; rooks e2/f1; bishop c2; pawns a5/b2/c3/d4. Black: king g7; queen h6; rooks f4/g3; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g6/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf4 — rook f1→f4, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf4 — queen h6→f4, captures rook. Opponent replies Rg2 (rook e2→g2).
  3. Best move: Qc1+ — queen f4→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Rg1 (rook g2→g1).
  4. Best move: Rxg1+ — rook g3→g1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxg1 (queen h2→g1, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Qxc2 — queen c1→c2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, exposed king, very long. The key move Rxg1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/pp4k1/2p3pq/P2p3p/3P1r2/2P3r1/1PB1R2Q/5R1K w - - 0 35

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.