Chess Puzzle #I50DM — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1506 · Intermediate · crushing, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks f1/h3; bishop g5; pawns g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen c8; rook a3; bishop f2; knight f5; pawns a6/e6/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf2 — rook f1→f2, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ra1+ — rook a3→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f2→f1).
  3. Best move: Qc5+ — queen c8→c5, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Ra1+.

Position data

FEN: 2q5/5kp1/p3p3/5nB1/6Q1/r6R/5bPP/5RK1 w - - 0 33

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.