Chess Puzzle #m1RfA — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f2; knights g3/g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/c6/e4/h2. Black: king e7; queen h4; rooks a8/g8; bishops c8/g7; pawns a6/c7/d6/e5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh5 — queen d1→h5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh5 — queen h4→h5, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxh5 (knight g3→h5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bh6 — bishop g7→h6. Opponent replies Rf7+ (rook f2→f7, gives check).
4. Best move: Kd8 — king e7→d8. Opponent replies h4 (pawn h2→h4).
5. Best move: Bxg5 — bishop h6→g5, captures knight. Opponent replies hxg5 (pawn h4→g5, captures bishop).
6. Best move: Rxg5+ — rook g8→g5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
7. Best move: Rxh5 — rook g5→h5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Rxg5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b3r1/2p1k1b1/p1Pp4/4p1N1/4P2q/6N1/PPP2R1P/R2Q2K1 w - - 2 23

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