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

Rating 1534 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king e2; queen d5; rooks b1/h1; knight d2; pawns a2/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c2; rook f8; bishop c8; knight d3; pawns a7/f7/g7/h3. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd3 — queen d5→d3, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bg4+ — bishop c8→g4, gives check. Opponent replies f3 (pawn f2→f3).
  3. Best move: Bxf3+ — bishop g4→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf3 (king e2→f3, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qxd3 — queen c2→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Bxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2b2rk1/p4pp1/8/3Q4/8/3nP1Pp/P1qNKP1P/1R5R w - - 3 23

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.