Chess Puzzle #9yXbK — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1745 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks a1/e1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d2; rooks a8/e8; bishop e2; pawns a7/c6/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe2 — knight c3→e2, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe2 — rook e8→e2, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd2 (queen f4→d2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd2 — rook e2→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Rxe2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/p1p2ppp/2p5/8/2P2Q2/2N5/PP1qbPPP/R3R1K1 w - - 3 22

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.