Chess Puzzle #k5XHI — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d3; rook f1; knight e6; pawns b4/c3/e3/e5/g3. Black: king c8; queen a7; rook a2; pawns a3/b7/c7/d5/g7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen d3→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen a7→e3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
3. Best move: Ra1+ — rook a2→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Kc2 (king b1→c2).
4. Best move: Qe2+ — queen e3→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kb3 (king c2→b3).
5. Best move: Qa2+ — queen e2→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka4 (king b3→a4).
6. Best move: Qxd5 — queen a2→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, fork, skewer, very long. The key move Qxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k5/qpp3p1/4N3/3pP3/1P6/p1PQP1P1/r7/2K2R2 w - - 0 26

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