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

Rating 2229 · Expert · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishop g2; knight c3; pawns b2/c2/d4. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks e8/h7; bishop g5; knight b4; pawns a2/c4/d5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxh7 — rook h1→h7, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7 — queen d7→h7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxg5 (queen d2→g5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Nxc2+ — knight b4→c2, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k1r3/3q3r/8/3p2b1/1npP4/2N5/pPPQ2B1/K2R3R w - - 0 32

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

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.