Chess Puzzle #AzM9X — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1568 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, discovered attack, endgame, exposed king, long.

Position

White: king e2; queen b1; rooks d2/d3; pawn h4. Black: king g7; queen g4; rook c2; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke3 — king e2→e3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe4+ — queen g4→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king e3→f2).
  3. Best move: Rxd2+ — rook c2→d2, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd2 (rook d3→d2, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxb1 — queen e4→b1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, discovered attack, endgame, exposed king, long. The key move Rxd2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/pp3pk1/6p1/3p4/6qP/3R4/2rRK3/1Q6 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.