Chess Puzzle #d0qpi — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2080 · Expert · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a8; rooks a1/f1; knights d2/f3; pawns a4/b2/c3/d3/e4/f2/g2. Black: king e7; queen d7; rooks c6/g8; bishop h3; knight f6; pawns c5/c7/e5/f7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxa8 — rook g8→a8, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxd7 (knight e5→d7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bxd7 — bishop h3→d7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Rxa8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: Q5r1/2pqkp2/2r2n1p/2p1p3/P3P3/2PP1N1b/1P1N1PP1/R4RK1 w - - 0 19

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.