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

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks c2/f3; bishop b6; pawns a3/b4/e3/e5/g2. Black: king h8; queen h4; bishop f8; knights f6/g3; pawns a6/d5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bd8 — bishop b6→d8. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h4→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
3. Best move: Nfe4+ — knight f6→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe4 (queen d3→e4, captures knight).
4. Best move: Nxe4+ — knight g3→e4, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5b1k/6pp/pB3n2/3pP3/1P5q/P2QPRn1/2R3P1/6K1 w - - 1 31

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