Chess Puzzle #hY30J — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/e1; bishops a2/c1; pawns a3/b2/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d6; rooks d8/h8; bishops b7/d4; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxe6 — pawn d5→e6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qg3 — queen d6→g3. Opponent replies exf7+ (pawn e6→f7, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Kf8 — king e8→f8. Opponent replies Re8+ (rook e1→e8, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxe8 — rook d8→e8, captures rook. Opponent replies fxe8=Q+ (pawn f7→e8, captures rook, promotes to queen, gives check).
5. Best move: Kxe8 — king f8→e8, captures queen. Opponent replies Qe2+ (queen c2→e2, gives check).
6. Best move: Kd8 — king e8→d8. Opponent replies Qf1 (queen e2→f1).
7. Best move: Rf8 — rook h8→f8.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move is Qg3.

Position data

FEN: 3rk2r/1b3pp1/p2qp2p/1p1P4/3b4/P6P/BPQ2PP1/R1B1R1K1 w k - 0 19

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