Chess Puzzle #ZyX2o — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks f1/f3; bishop d6; knight g5; pawns a4/e5/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; knight f5; pawns a6/b7/d7/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf5 — rook f3→f5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: exf5 — pawn e6→f5, captures rook. Opponent replies Qc4 (queen e4→c4).
3. Best move: Re6 — rook e8→e6.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move exf5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b1r1k1/1p1p1p1p/p2Bp1p1/q3PnN1/P3Q2P/5R2/5PP1/5RK1 w - - 3 21

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