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

Rating 1422 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks c1/e1; bishops d2/g2; knight c7; pawns a3/e4/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks d6/e8; bishop a6; knights e5/f6; pawns a7/b6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe8 — knight c7→e8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd2 — rook d6→d2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxf6+ (knight e8→f6, captures knight, gives check).
  3. Best move: gxf6 — pawn g7→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd2 (queen d1→d2, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxd2 — queen b2→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Rxd2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p1N2pp1/bp1r1n1p/4n3/4P3/P5PP/1q1B2B1/2RQR2K 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.