Chess Puzzle #HlRa8 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2221 · Expert · equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks f1/h4; knight e5; pawns a2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks a8/e8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/d4/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf6 — rook f1→f6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: d3 — pawn d4→d3. Opponent replies Nxd3 (knight e5→d3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: gxf6 — pawn g7→f6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move is d3.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp4p1/5n2/3qN3/3p3R/2P5/P1Q3PP/5RK1 w - - 0 25

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.