Chess Puzzle #Qa5Ad — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rook a1; knights a3/f5; pawns a4/b4/c3/d3/d5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen e2; rook g8; bishop h3; knight g2; pawns a6/b7/c6/c7/f7/g4. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: d6 — pawn d5→d6. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne1 — knight g2→e1. Opponent replies d7+ (pawn d6→d7, gives check).
3. Best move: Kd8 — king e8→d8. Opponent replies Qh4+ (queen h5→h4, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxd7 — king d8→d7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qe7+ (queen h4→e7, gives check).
5. Best move: Qxe7 — queen e2→e7, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxe7 (knight f5→e7, captures queen).
6. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e1→f3, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, middlegame, very long. The key move is Ne1.

Position data

FEN: 4k1r1/1pp2p2/p1p5/3P1N1Q/PP4p1/N1PP2Pb/4qPnP/R5K1 w - - 3 25

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