Chess Puzzle #9wB1j — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks e5/f1; bishop a5; knight b6; pawns a2/b2/d4/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks b8/d8; bishop f8; knight f5; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exf5 — pawn e4→f5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe5 — queen f6→e5, captures rook. Opponent replies dxe5 (pawn d4→e5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd3 — rook d8→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r1r1bk1/1p3p1p/pN2pqp1/B3Rn2/3PP3/3Q4/PP3PPP/5RK1 w - - 3 24

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