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

Position

White: king b1; queen a4; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knight e2; pawns a2/b5/d4/e4/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen g6; rooks d7/d8; bishop e6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa7 — queen a4→a7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen g6→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb2 (king b1→b2).
3. Best move: Rxd4 — rook d7→d4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxd4 (knight e2→d4, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxd4 — rook d8→d4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move Qxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr4/pppr1pp1/4b1q1/1P5p/Q2PP3/7P/P3N1P1/RK3B1R w - - 1 22

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