Chess Puzzle #CMcAl — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1718 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/e3/f5/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e5; rooks c8/h8; bishop b7; knight h5; pawns a7/b6/c6/d5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg6 — pawn f5→g6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: hxg6 — pawn h7→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxh8+ (queen h6→h8, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxh8 — queen e5→h8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move hxg6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k2r/pb3p1p/1pp3pQ/3pqP1n/8/2NBP3/PP4PP/R4RK1 w k - 0 18

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.