Chess Puzzle #mUD1b — Expert, Black to move, opening

Rating 2001 · Expert · crushing, deflection, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g2; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops d2/e2; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/c4/d3/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g7; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/e7; knight h6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d4/d6/f6/g5/h4. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe7 — knight d5→e7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen d7→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king g2→g1).
  3. Best move: hxg3 — pawn h4→g3, captures pawn. Opponent replies fxg3 (pawn f2→g3, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Ng4 — knight h6→g4.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move is Qh3+.

Position data

FEN: r1b4r/pppqb1k1/3p1p1n/3N2p1/2PpP2p/P2P2P1/1P1BBPKP/R2Q1R2 w - - 2 21

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

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.