Chess Puzzle #gdK18 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/f5; pawns a3/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2. Black: king h8; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; bishop d6; knight e4; pawns a6/b7/c7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen f3→e4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rae8 — rook a8→e8. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen e4→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qh2+ — queen h4→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
4. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f1→e2).
5. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook f8→e8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, interference, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/1pp3pp/p2b4/5B2/3Pn2q/P4Q2/1PP2PP1/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 20

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