Chess Puzzle #L5VS8 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1477 · Intermediate · advantage, capturing the defender, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops e3/f3; pawns a2/b3/c3/d4/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b5; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; knight f5; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen d1→e2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe2 — queen b5→e2, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxe2 (bishop f3→e2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxe3 — knight f5→e3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/ppp2pbp/4p1p1/1q2Pn2/3P4/1PP1BB1P/P5P1/R2Q1RK1 w - - 1 16

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.