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

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/f1; bishops d3/f4; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g7; queen d6; rooks c8/e8; bishop c7; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/f6/f7/g5/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh5 — queen d1→h5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: gxf4 — pawn g5→f4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qh7+ (queen h5→h7, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kf8 — king g7→f8. Opponent replies Qh6+ (queen h7→h6, gives check).
  4. Best move: Ke7 — king f8→e7.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move gxf4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r3/ppb2pk1/3q1p2/3Pn1pp/5B2/3B2PP/PP3P2/2RQ1RK1 w - - 0 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.