Chess Puzzle #bqgT7 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2138 · Expert · equality, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen f3; rooks d2/h1; bishop f1; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/f8; bishop f5; knight b4; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a3 — pawn a2→a3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nd3+ — knight b4→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd3 (rook d2→d3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxd3 — bishop f5→d3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move is Nd3+.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/ppp2ppp/8/5bq1/1n1P4/4PQ1P/PP1RNPP1/2K2B1R w - - 1 17

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.