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

Rating 1530 · Intermediate · advantage, defensive move, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rook d1; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen c6; rook h8; bishop b7; knight g6; pawns a6/b6/c7/f4/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight f3→e5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc5+ — queen c6→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen c5→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Rd7+ (rook d1→d7, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kf6 — king g7→f6.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qc5+.

Position data

FEN: 7r/1bp3k1/ppq3np/8/5pQ1/2N2N1P/PPP3P1/3R2K1 w - - 0 27

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.