Chess Puzzle #L4HKX — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1597 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, endgame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a8/f1; pawns e3/g2/h3. Black: king f7; queen f6; rooks c1/c7; pawns d5/e4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc1 — rook f1→c1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook c7→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Qe5+ — queen f6→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Qg3 (queen g4→g3).
  4. Best move: Rh1+ — rook c1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh1 (king h2→h1, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Qxg3 — queen e5→g3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, very long. The key move Rxc1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: R7/2r2kpp/5q2/3p4/4p1Q1/4P2P/6P1/2r2RK1 w - - 2 37

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.