Chess Puzzle #UxnrK — Advanced, Black to move, opening

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/d3; knights e5/e6; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f4/g2. Black: king c8; queen e8; rooks d8/h8; bishop c7; knights a6/e7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f5/g3/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd8 — knight e6→d8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h8→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh1 (king g1→h1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen e8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Qh5 (queen d1→h5).
4. Best move: Qxh5+ — queen h8→h5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxh5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2krq2r/ppb1n1p1/n1p1N3/3pNp2/3P1P2/2PB2p1/PP4P1/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 19

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