Chess Puzzle #JPqCN — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rook f1; knight g3; pawns a2/d4/e3/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a3; rook f7; bishop e7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/e4/f4. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf4 — rook f1→f4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen a3→e3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Qxf4 — queen e3→f4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move Qxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/pp2br2/2p1Q3/3pP3/3Ppp2/q3P1NP/P5P1/5RK1 w - - 1 30

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.