Chess Puzzle #fMtc9 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a5; rook c7; bishops e2/f4; pawns b5/d4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook f8; bishop g7; knight c8; pawns b7/c4/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc4 — bishop e2→c4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: e5 — pawn e6→e5. Opponent replies dxe5 (pawn d4→e5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: b6 — pawn b7→b6. Opponent replies Qb4 (queen a5→b4).
4. Best move: Qxc7 — queen d8→c7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, interference, long, middlegame. The key move is e5.

Position data

FEN: 2nq1rk1/1pR2pbp/4p1p1/QP6/2pP1B2/4P2P/4BPP1/6K1 w - - 0 27

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