Chess Puzzle #A0Bke — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g4; rooks f2/f3; bishop d2; knight f5; pawns d3/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks b1/f8; bishop d6; knight h5; pawns a6/c5/c6/d5/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd6 — knight f5→d6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qa1 — queen a2→a1. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f2→f1).
3. Best move: Rxf1 — rook b1→f1, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook f3→f1, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxf1 — queen a1→f1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Qa1.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5p2/p1pb2pp/2pp1N1n/5PQ1/3P1R1P/q2B1RPK/1r6 w - - 0 26

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