Chess Puzzle #OfWRt — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks e1/e7; knight c5; pawns a3/b4/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen c6; rooks d8/e8; knight f6; pawns a6/b7/d5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd7+ — knight c5→d7, gives check. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxd7 — queen c6→d7, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook e7→d7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd7 — rook d8→d7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qf4 (queen e5→f4).
4. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, skewer. The key move Rxe1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3rrk2/1p2Rpp1/p1q2n1p/2NpQ3/1P1P4/P6P/5PP1/4R1K1 w - - 7 29

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