Chess Puzzle #nppY8 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2207 · Expert · advantage, defensive move, hanging piece, middlegame, skewer, very long.

Position

White: king c1; queen h6; rooks d1/h1; bishop d4; knight c3; pawns a3/b4/c2/e5/f6. Black: king g8; queen c4; rooks a8/d7; bishop g6; knight a6; pawns a7/b5/c5/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc5 — bishop d4→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen c4→c3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxg6+ (queen h6→g6, captures bishop, gives check).
  3. Best move: hxg6 — pawn h7→g6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook d1→d7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qa1+ — queen c3→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c1→d2).
  5. Best move: Qxh1 — queen a1→h1, captures rook. Opponent replies f7+ (pawn f6→f7, gives check).
  6. Best move: Kh8 — king g8→h8.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, hanging piece, middlegame, skewer, very long. The key move Qxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p2r3p/n4PbQ/1pp1P3/1PqB4/P1N5/2P5/2KR3R w - - 0 30

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.