Chess Puzzle #EQHS8 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2015 · Expert · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks d1/e1; bishop c2; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c4/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops b7/b8; pawns a7/b6/c5/e6/f6/f7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf7 — knight e5→f7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc7 — queen d8→c7. Opponent replies Ne5 (knight f7→e5).
  3. Best move: fxe5 — pawn f6→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc7.

Position data

FEN: rb1qrk2/pb3p2/1p2pp1p/2p1N3/2PP4/3Q4/PPB2PPP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 19

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.