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

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rooks a1/e1; bishops c5/f1; pawns a2/b2/c2/c6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks a8/e8; bishop e6; knight d6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd6 — queen d5→d6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe1 — queen b4→e1, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook a1→e1, captures queen).
3. Best move: cxd6 — pawn c7→d6, captures queen. Opponent replies cxb7 (pawn c6→b7, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Rab8 — rook a8→b8. Opponent replies Bxd6 (bishop c5→d6, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Rxb7 — rook b8→b7, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxe1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/ppp2ppp/2Pnb3/2BQp3/1q6/8/PPP2PPP/R3RBK1 w - - 8 16

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