Chess Puzzle #TXR1o — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e5; rooks a1/h1; knight h5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king d7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop g5; knight b7; pawns a7/c5/f7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: fxg5 — pawn f4→g5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Re8 — rook f8→e8. Opponent replies Nf6+ (knight h5→f6, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen d8→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g5→f6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxe5+ — rook e8→e5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Rxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r2/pn1k1p2/8/2p1Q1bN/5P2/3P4/PPP3PP/R3K2R w KQ - 1 23

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