Chess Puzzle #S0zwJ — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c7/f1; bishop g4; knight d6; pawns a3/b2/e3/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks a8/f8; bishop g6; knight h7; pawns a6/b5/d5/f5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen e6→e3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Nxf6 — knight h7→f6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nf5 (knight d6→f5).
4. Best move: Bxf5 — bishop g6→f5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/2R3pn/p2Nq1bp/1p1pPp2/5PB1/P3P3/1P4PP/3Q1RK1 w - f6 0 20

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