Chess Puzzle #F7Pjh — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2329 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishops e3/f1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/f3/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen a4; rooks c8/f8; bishop e7; knight e6; pawns a6/b4/d6/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe6 — pawn d5→e6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: b3 — pawn b4→b3. Opponent replies a3 (pawn a2→a3).
  3. Best move: Rxc2+ — rook c8→c2, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Rxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/4bpp1/p2pn2p/3Pp1P1/qp5P/4BP2/PPPQ4/2KR1B1R w - - 1 21

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.