Chess Puzzle #HpU9s — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1433 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king f1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishop c3; knight b1; pawns a2/b3/c2/d2/e3/f2/h3. Black: king e8; queen g5; rooks a8/h4; bishop c8; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/c7/d5/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg1 — rook h1→g1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxh3+ — bishop c8→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh3 (queen f3→h3, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxg1+ — queen g5→g1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg1 (king f1→g1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxh3 — rook h4→h3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Bxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k3/1pp2p1p/p1n5/3p2q1/7r/1PB1PQ1P/P1PP1P2/RN3K1R w q - 1 14

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.