Chess Puzzle #ELFID — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d5; rooks a1/d1; bishop d6; knight g4; pawns a2/b3/b5/f2/g2/h6. Black: king h8; queen e8; rooks c8/f8; bishop f6; knight e2; pawns a7/e4/e5/g5/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf6 — knight g4→f6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxf6 — rook f8→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies g4 (pawn g2→g4).
3. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook f6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h2→g2).
4. Best move: Nf4+ — knight e2→f4, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Rxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1qr1k/p6p/3B1b1P/1P1Qp1p1/4p1N1/1P6/P3nPPK/R2R4 w - - 5 28

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